Testimonial Privilege. The judiciary has the power to compel witnesses to appear and testify in judicial proceedings so the court will receive all relevant evidence. Common law and statutory law recognize exceptions to certain communications when certain classes of relationships or communications within those relationships are deemed of such importance that they should be protected from being compelled to testify in judicial proceedings.
Washington statutory law establishes a number of testimonial privileges, including communications between the following persons:
Testimonial Privilege. Neither a union representative nor an employee the union represents or has represented shall be examined or required to disclose any communication between an employee and union representative or between union representatives made in the course of union representation. Exceptions to this privilege are established that permit examination and disclosure of such communications under the following circumstances:
The testimonial privilege does not apply to any record of communications that would otherwise be subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act. A communication includes any oral, written, or electronic communication or document containing such communication.
Union Employees and Representatives. The testimonial privilege applies to employees and representatives of any organization that represents the following employees in negotiations with employers: