S-2105

AN ACT Relating to collective bargaining for University of Washington employees who are enrolled in academic programs; adding a new section to chapter 41.56 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the purpose of this act to promote cooperative labor relations between the University of Washington and the employees who provide instructional services who are enrolled as students at the university by extending collective bargaining rights as provided for in this chapter and using the orderly procedures administered by the public employment relations commission. However, the legislature intends that there will be no reduction of educational opportunities for students enrolled at the university. To achieve this end the legislature intends that pursuant to chapter 41.56 RCW, the university will exclusively bargain in good faith over all matters within the scope of bargaining with the exclusive bargaining representative of employees as defined in section 2 of this act.

The legislature recognizes the importance of the shared governance practices developed at the University of Washington. The legislature does not intend to restrict, limit, or prohibit the exercise of the functions of the faculty in any shared governance mechanisms or practices, including the faculty senate, faculty councils, and faculty codes of the University of Washington; nor does the legislature intend to restrict, limit, or prohibit the exercise of the functions of the graduate and professional student senate, the associated students of the University of Washington, or any other student organization in matters outside the scope of bargaining covered by chapter 41.56 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 41.56 RCW to read as follows:

(1) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.020, this chapter shall apply to the University of Washington with respect to employees of the University of Washington who are enrolled in an academic program and are in a classification under (a) through (f) of this subsection on any University of Washington campus, including a branch campus. The employees in (a) through (f) of this subsection constitute an appropriate bargaining unit:

(a) Predoctoral instructors;

(b) Predoctoral lecturers;

(d) Predoctoral teaching associates I and II;

(e) Tutors, readers, and graders in all academic units and tutoring centers; and

(f) All employees enrolled in an academic program whose duties and responsibilities are substantially equivalent to those employees in (a) through (e) of this subsection.

(2) Provisions of collective bargaining agreements related to compensation are subject to the restrictions under RCW 41.56.201(2)(c) and (3).

(3) The University of Washington is not obligated pursuant to this chapter to bargain over:

(a) The ability to terminate the employment of any individual if the individual is not meeting academic requirements as determined by the university;

(b) The number of students to be admitted to a particular class or class section;

(d) The amount of tuition or fees. Tuition and fee remission and waiver, however, shall be within the scope of bargaining.

(4) Any funds obligated pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement under this chapter shall come from administrative cost savings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.