HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1533

BYRepresentatives Meyers, Schmidt, Zellinsky and Jones; by request of Department of Transportation

Permitting earlier implementation of ferry employee bargaining agreements.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Doty, Fisher, Fox, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Jacobsen, Jones, Meyers, Patrick, Schmidt, D. Sommers, Sutherland, Vekich, J. Williams, K. Wilson, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Louise Bray (786-7322)

AS OF HOUSE SECOND READING FEBRUARY 8, 1988

BACKGROUND:

RCW 47.64.190 currently provides that no new agreement with a ferry employee bargaining unit may become effective until after the bargaining process has been completed for all six Ferry System bargaining units. Delays occur when, for example, the negotiation process with one bargaining unit is extended because of litigation.  These delays are often unsatisfactory to both sides of the collective bargaining process.

RCW 47.64.180 prohibits the Department of Transportation from entering into collective bargaining agreements that are inconsistent with any statutory limitation on the Department's funds, spending, or budget.

SUMMARY:

The parties to an arbitrated or negotiated agreement with a ferry employee bargaining unit may agree to an effective date for all or part of such agreement provided:  1) The Secretary of the Department of Transportation finds that the budget and fare limitations of RCW 47.64.180 would not be exceeded if similar terms were negotiated with all ferry employee bargaining units; and 2) the bargaining unit agrees to repay any amounts in excess of those limitations by an appropriate reduction of wages over a twelve-month period and to modify the contract to eliminate the excess amounts.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Elton Eilert, Department of Transportation.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The Department and the ferry employee bargaining units need flexibility in implementing their contracts.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.