HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESB 5251
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 House:
April 4, 2007
Title: An act relating to the term of existence of a collective bargaining agreement.
Brief Description: Establishing the term of existence of a collective bargaining agreement.
Sponsors: By Senators Kohl-Welles, Clements, Hobbs, Parlette, Pridemore and Hatfield.
Brief History:
Commerce & Labor: 3/15/07, 3/27/07 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 4/4/07, 70-26.
Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 6 members: Representatives Conway, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Crouse, Green, Moeller and Williams.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Condotta, Ranking Minority Member and Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.
Staff: Jill Reinmuth (786-7134).
Background:
Employees of cities, counties, municipal corporations, 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, individual providers (home care workers), and family child
care providers.
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 personnel 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 Engrossed Bill:
Under the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA), the maximum allowable
term for collective bargaining agreements between cities, counties, municipal corporations,
and school districts and their respective employees is increased from three to six years.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) With up to three-year terms, the parties can be well into a term before they reach
agreement on non-wage issues. Then they are right back at the bargaining table.
With up to six-year terms, cities will be able to be more efficient. Some small cities have up
to seven bargaining units, and are almost constantly bargaining.
This bill will help improve the working environment. Long negotiations have a negative
impact on morale.
The bill does not cover state employee groups. Given the state budget cycle, six-year
bargaining agreements would be untenable.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Owen Linch, Joint Council of Teamsters; Pat Thompson, Washington State Council of County and City Employees; Paul Pearce, Skamania County Commissioner; and Jim Justin, Association of Washington Cities.