SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6383

BYSenate Committee on Economic Development & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Anderson, Lee, Smitherman and Rasmussen; by request of Department of Labor and Industries)

Promoting labor-management cooperation on the industrial insurance system.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 22, 1990; January 23, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6383 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; McMullen, Matson, Murray, Saling, Smitherman, Warnke, West, Williams.

Senate Staff:Jonathan Seib (786-7427)

                  February 6, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 5, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In a rapidly changing economy, cooperation between labor and management is being viewed as crucial to an area's economic health.  The United States Department of Labor is making a concerted effort to foster better labor-management relations throughout the country.

Some states, and some areas in Washington State, have formal labor-management cooperation mechanisms in place that have reported successes.

Industrial insurance may be an area for which labor- management committees are particularly suited.  Such committees in Oregon have allowed labor and management to jointly and effectively address local industrial insurance concerns.

SUMMARY:

The Industrial Insurance Labor-Management Cooperation Program is established in the Department of Labor and Industries.  It will promote and assist the establishment of local industrial insurance labor-management committees, gather and disseminate information on industrial insurance and relevant issues to be addressed by local committees, and carry-out educational activities to promote labor management cooperation.

The program coordinator appointed by the director of the department reports quarterly to the workers' compensation advisory committee on the program.

The director of the department reports annually to the Legislature on the program.

The program terminates June 30, 1991 unless otherwise extended.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Bob McCallister, Department of Labor and Industries; Robert Dilger, Washington Building and Construction Trades Council; Randal Parr, Washington Labor Council; Clif Finch, Association of Washington Business.