Title: An act relating to implementing the compensation and fringe benefit provisions in the master collective bargaining agreement.

Brief Description: Implementing the compensation and fringe benefit provisions in the master collective bargaining agreement.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senator Spanel).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 2/1/06, 2/2/06 [DPS, DNP, w/oRec].

Passed Senate: 2/14/06, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6660 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Brown, Keiser and Prentice.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Hewitt and Honeyford.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senator Parlette, Ranking Minority Member.

Staff: Alison Mendiola (786-7483)

Background: Currently, state collective bargaining agreements must be submitted to the Director of the Office of Financial Management (OFM) by October 1 prior to the legislative session in which the request is to be considered.

Summary of Bill: For the purposes of collective bargaining agreements for institutions of higher education, the October 1 deadline is suspended if one or both of the parties to an agreement make an application before that date to the Public Employment Relations Commission for the appointment of a mediator to assist in the resolution of differences that occur during the negotiation of an agreement for compensation and fringe benefits or if the parties are engaged in the fact-finding process provided for in RCW 41.80.090.

An agreement that is reached by November 15th preceding the legislative session at which the requests are to be considered is to be submitted by the Governor to the Legislature, provided that OFM has determined the request is feasible financially for the State.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For (Original Bill): Currently, with the October 1 deadline, there is a very short window for bargaining which has resulted in employees being presented with very limited options offers since management either fails to negotiate at the commencement of negotiations or they simply say "no" until the deadline approaches. By suspending the October 1 deadline if an agreement can not be reached, a safety net is created for all parties.

Testimony Against (Original Bill): Allowing parties to negotiate a contract and make the Legislature act on it if the request is submitted by "final action" on the State budget is too vague.

Who Testified (Original Bill): PRO: Eric Nordlof, Public School Employees of WA; David Crook, Western Washington University (WWU); Kathy Tadlock, WWU; and Marty Hitchcock, WWU.

CON: LouAnn Mollenhour, self.