SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6380

                    As of January 19, 2000

Title:  An act relating to defining employees working under a site certificate issued under chapter 80.50 RCW.

Brief Description:  Defining employees working under a site certification issued under chapter 80.50 RCW.

Sponsors:  Senators Loveland and Heavey.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor & Workforce Development:  1/20/2000.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Staff:  Jill Reinmuth (786-7452)

Background:  Employees of counties and municipal corporations, including operating agencies, bargain their wages and working conditions under the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA).  Although PECBA does not grant any public employee the right to strike, it explicitly recognizes the public policy against strikes by "uniformed personnel."  When contract negotiations reach an impasse and cannot be resolved through mediation, PECBA requires uniformed personnel to settle disputes through binding interest arbitration.  "Uniformed personnel" do not include operating and maintenance employees of nuclear power plants.

Summary of Bill:  Operating and maintenance employees of agencies operating certain commercial nuclear power plants are required to settle certain contract disputes through binding interest arbitration.  This requirement applies only to employees of agencies operating plants: (1) under site certificates issued under Chapter 80.50 RCW; and (2) on the effective date of the act.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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