AN ACT Relating to the establishment of a program to improve labor-management cooperation; adding a new chapter to Title 49 RCW; making an appropriation; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the stability and quality of the relationships between labor and management in the state's firms and industries is a major contributor to the health of the state economy and the capacity of the economy to provide ample high-quality employment for the state's citizens. The legislature also finds that cooperation between labor and management provides opportunities for substantial increases in productivity, a critical element in the competitiveness of the state's firms and industries. The legislature further recognizes that efforts to increase labor-management cooperation can help to foster a more positive labor relations climate in the state and can provide opportunities for labor and management to work together on common problems. Therefore, in order to strengthen the state economy, increase productivity, and encourage cooperative solutions to labor-management problems, the legislature establishes the labor-management cooperation program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Department" means the department of trade and economic development.

(2) "Director" means the director of the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The labor-management cooperation program is created in the department. The program shall provide opportunities for joint labor-management problem-solving on issues of common concern. The program shall work with existing labor-management committees to achieve its goals whenever feasible. The activities of the program shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) The provision of funds to local area and industry-wide labor-management committees. Such committees shall include equal representation of labor and management and may also include community or local government representatives. No more than one dollar of state funds shall be provided to a labor-management committee for each dollar of local funds, and no more than ten thousand dollars of assistance shall be provided by the program to a particular committee in a given biennium.

(b) Promoting labor-management cooperation through activities which may include: Public awareness and outreach programs; the support of in-plant assistance programs designed to retain and create jobs in Washington firms; technical assistance, facilitation, and information on job-saving and job creation programs for firms, labor organizations, and communities; programs to assist people involved in labor-management cooperation to share information about their activities; and programs which provide labor and management opportunities to study issues of mutual concern and to communicate or work together to solve common problems.

(2) The program shall not engage in activities which are intended to displace existing employment. State funding assistance shall not be provided to local-area or industry-wide labor-management committees engaging in activities intended to displace existing employment.

(3) The labor-management cooperation program shall work in conjunction with any business and job retention program established within the department or any other agency of state government.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Funding assistance to local area or industry-wide groups provided by the program shall be triggered by a request to the director. A formal request by a group including local labor, business, and local government leaders to the director shall trigger assistance to a local-area labor-management committee. A formal request by a group including labor and business leaders from a state industry or industries to the director shall trigger assistance to an industry-wide labor-management committee. The director may direct the program to explore initial problems and opportunities in the labor-management situation in a community or industry by convening meetings with local businesses and labor organizations and with local government and community leaders. The formal request for assistance shall describe the local or industry-wide labor-management committee applying for funding assistance, the problems or opportunities the committee intends to address, local resources available to help with the effort, and other assistance needed from the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. There is established the labor-management cooperation program advisory committee. The advisory committee shall consist of five representatives of business, five representatives of labor organizations, and a chair representing the general public. One business representative shall represent public employers, and one labor organization representative shall represent public employees. Interested organizations may submit names to the governor for appointment to the advisory committee. The chair and the members of the advisory committee shall be appointed by the governor for three-year terms and shall serve at the governor's discretion. The director of the employment security department, the director of the department of community development, and the director of the department of trade and economic development shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the advisory committee. Each agency head of an executive agency who is appointed to serve as a nonvoting member of the advisory committee may designate an agency employee to take his or her place on the advisory committee for meetings at which the agency head will be absent. The advisory committee shall assist the department in the development of the initial work plan, goals, and objectives of the program. The advisory committee shall also facilitate and ensure interagency coordination regarding the labor-management cooperation program on a continuing basis. The committee shall meet as needed. Members of the committee shall not receive compensation but shall be reimbursed for subsistence and travel in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 49 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 1988. The director may immediately take such steps as are necessary to ensure that this act is implemented on its effective date.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The sum of .......... dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, from the general fund to the department of trade and economic development for the purposes of this act.