Brief Description: Allowing six-year long collective bargaining agreements.

Sponsors: Senators Doumit, Parlette, Pridemore, Delvin, Fraser, McAuliffe, Shin and Kohl-Welles.

Hearing Date: 2/22/06

Staff: Lara Zarowsky (786-7119) and Chris Cordes (786-7103).

Background:

Employees of cities, counties, and other political subdivisions of the state bargain their wages and working conditions under the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA). Various other public employees also bargain under the auspices of the PECBA, including: Washington state patrol officers and other specified "uniformed personnel," classified employees at school districts and technical colleges, teaching assistants at the University of Washington, and individual providers (home care workers).

Under the PECBA, the employer and exclusive bargaining representative have a mutual obligation to negotiate in good faith and to execute a written agreement over specified mandatory subjects of bargaining (grievance procedures and personal matters, including wages, hours and working conditions). A collective bargaining agreement is not valid if it provides for a term of more than three years.

Summary of Bill:

Under the PECBA, the maximum allowable term for collective bargaining agreements between the public employer and an exclusive bargaining representative is increased from three to six years.

Rules Authority: The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule-making powers of an agency.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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