HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2763

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed Legislature

Title: An act relating to interest arbitration for department of corrections employees.

Brief Description: Concerning interest arbitration for department of corrections employees.

Sponsors: Representatives Chapman, Dent, Hudgins and Tharinger.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Labor & Workplace Standards: 1/27/20, 1/30/20 [DP];

Appropriations: 2/5/20, 2/10/20 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/16/20, 79-17.

Passed Senate: 3/6/20, 48-0.

Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Provides interest arbitration to nonsupervisory marine department employees of the Department of Corrections.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKPLACE STANDARDS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 6 members: Representatives Sells, Chair; Chapman, Vice Chair; Mosbrucker, Ranking Minority Member; Gregerson, Hoff and Ormsby.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.

Staff: Trudes Tango (786-7384).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 23 members: Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Robinson, 1st Vice Chair; Bergquist, 2nd Vice Chair; Rude, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Chandler, Chopp, Cody, Dolan, Fitzgibbon, Hansen, Hudgins, Kilduff, Macri, Mosbrucker, Pettigrew, Pollet, Ryu, Senn, Springer, Sullivan, Tarleton and Tharinger.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; Corry, Dye, Hoff, Kraft, Schmick, Steele, Sutherland and Ybarra.

Staff: David Pringle (786-7310).

Background:

The Department of Corrections (DOC) is responsible for managing state-operated adult prison facilities and supervising adult offenders residing in communities. The DOC also maintains marine operations for the McNeil Island civil commitment center.

The Personnel System Reform Act (PSRA) provides for collective bargaining of wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment with classified employees of state agencies and higher education institutions. The PSRA provides for binding interest arbitration for the DOC employees, except for confidential employees, nonsupervisory marine department employees, members of the Washington Management Service, and internal auditors, who are not granted interest arbitration.

Summary of Bill:

The interest arbitration provisions for the DOC employees applies to nonsupervisory marine department employees.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Labor & Workplace Standards):

(In support) There are seven employees that would benefit from this bill. Deckhands, who are members of the Teamsters, already have interest arbitration. There would be retention problems if deckhands end up earning more than the captains.

(Opposed) None.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Appropriations):

(In support) There are seven captains who operate the boats to McNeil Island.  There is a union on the boats, representing the deckhands.  After several rounds of bargaining, the salary difference between the deckhands and the captains who supervise them has narrowed.  The deckhands, with access to arbitration, have had better contract results.  Recruitment and retention problems are starting to occur—a problem because these captains are highly skilled and credentialed.

(Opposed) None.

(Other) There is a coalition that small unions join together and bargain at a single table.  This provides arbitration for only one group at the coalition table.  Maybe a separate table would work, but it would generate additional costs.

Persons Testifying (Labor & Workplace Standards): Representative Chapman, prime sponsor; and Gordon Baxter, International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots, American Federation of Labor, and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Persons Testifying (Appropriations): (In support) Gordon Baxter, International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots.

(Other) Franklin Plaistowe, Office of Financial Management.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Labor & Workplace Standards): None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Appropriations): None.