Brief Description: Applying arbitration to bargaining by the state and the Washington state patrol.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Williams, Sells, Ericks, Simpson, Hurst, Loomis, Conway, Liias, VanDeWege, Kenney, Linville and Ormsby).

House Committee on Commerce & Labor
Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development

Background:

Employees of cities, counties, and other political subdivisions bargain their wages and working conditions under the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA). The Washington State Patrol officers also bargain under the PECBA.

The Washington State Patrol officers and certain other law enforcement officers and fire fighters are considered "uniformed personnel." To resolve bargaining disputes involving these uniformed personnel, the PECBA requires binding interest arbitration if negotiations for a contract reach impasse and cannot be resolved through mediation.

Although the PECBA provides a procedure for selection of an arbitration panel after negotiations reach impasse, it does not provide such a procedure before the parties begin bargaining.

Summary:

A procedure is provided for selection of an interest arbitration panel before the representatives of the state and Washington State Patrol officers begin bargaining.

Within 10 days after the first Monday in September of odd-numbered years, the bargaining representatives must attempt to agree on a three-member interest arbitration panel. Each party must name one person to serve on the panel. These members must attempt to choose the third member to serve as the neutral chair of the panel. If these members fail to select a neutral chair within seven days, the members may request the Public Employment Relations Commission (Commission) to appoint the third member. Alternatively, either member may apply to the Commission, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, or the American Arbitration Association to provide a list of five qualified arbitrators from which to choose the third member. The parties must prepare a schedule of at least five negotiation dates.

The parties must also execute a written agreement setting forth the names of the arbitration panel members and the negotiation dates.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   90   0
Senate   47   1

Effective: June 12, 2008