Washington State House of Representatives	BILL ANALYSIS
Transportation Committee

HB 2287

Brief Description:  Requiring that employee benefits for contract transportation employees be not less than those provided to public transportation employees.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cooper, O'Brien, Veloria, Fromhold, Reardon, Conway, McIntire, Simpson, Schual‑Berke, Fisher, Tokuda, McDermott, Wood, Kirby, Edwards, Haigh, Kenney and Dickerson.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Employee benefits provided to contract transportation employees cannot be less than those provided to public transportation employees.

Hearing Date:  1/31/02

Staff:  Penny Nerup (786‑7335).

Background:

Employees of public transportation authorities have labor rights covered by the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) statute.  PERC was created in 1975 and adjudicates collective bargaining and other disputes between public employers and their employees.

Some public transportation authorities have been contracting out bus routes in response to fiscal pressures.

Summary of Bill:

Public employers offering transportation services may not contract out for those services typically or historically provided by public transportation system employees if the wages and benefits provided under contract by the private entity are less than those provided to public transportation system employees.

Public employers must notify affected labor organizations prior to contracting out.

No limitation is placed on the duty to bargain with labor organizations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.