FINAL BILL REPORT
HB 2722
C 19 L 00
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Excluding exempt positions from bargaining units of employees of institutions of higher education governed by chapter 41.56 RCW.
Sponsors: Representatives Kenney, Carlson and Esser; by request of University of Washington.
House Committee on Higher Education
Senate Committee on Higher Education
Background:
Under the state civil service system, certain employees have limited bargaining rights. This limited right means that bargaining units and institutions may only bargain over matters within an institution's discretionary authority. Certain positions in higher education are exempt from the civil service law, including all presidents, vice-presidents, their confidential secretaries, administrative and personal assistants, as well as deans and directors.
In 1993 the Legislature granted higher education institutions and the unions representing their employees the option to have full collective bargaining under the public employees' collective bargaining law. The bargaining units and the institutions may exercise this option and bargain over wages, hours, and working conditions, subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Commission.
The University of Washington and the Classified Staff Association (CSA), District 925 have exercised that option for several bargaining units. A dispute arose between the university and the CSA about whether the civil service exemptions were applied to the bargaining units that transferred to the jurisdiction of the public employees' collective bargaining law. The executive director of the Public Employment Commission ruled the exemption did not apply.
Summary of Bill:
Exemptions from civil service apply to higher education bargaining units that have been transferred from the jurisdiction of the civil service law to the jurisdiction of the public employees' collective bargaining law.
Votes on Final Passage:
House970
Senate480
Effective:June 8, 2000