SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1105
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Labor & Commerce, March 21, 2025
Title: An act relating to exempting exclusive bargaining representatives for department of corrections employees from certain provisions related to coalition bargaining.
Brief Description: Exempting exclusive bargaining representatives for department of corrections employees from certain provisions related to coalition bargaining.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Fosse, Low, Stearns, Leavitt, Berry, Ryu, Cortes, Farivar, Doglio, Paul, Goodman, Wylie, Pollet, Fey, Kloba, Nance, Lekanoff and Bernbaum).
Brief History: Passed House: 3/4/25, 83-12.
Committee Activity: Labor & Commerce: 3/21/25 [DP, DNP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Exempts certain exclusive bargaining representatives of interest arbitration-eligible Department of Corrections (DOC) employees from coalition bargaining requirements.
  • Requires the Governor and the exclusive bargaining representative for DOC employees to negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Saldaña, Chair; Conway, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Alvarado, MacEwen, Ramos and Stanford.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senators Braun and Schoesler.
Staff: Jarrett Sacks (786-7448)
Background:

The Personnel System Reform Act (PSRA) provides for collective bargaining of wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment with classified employees of state agencies and higher education institutions. The PSRA provides for binding interest arbitration for Department of Corrections (DOC) employees, except for confidential employees, members of the Washington Management Service, and internal auditors.

 

The PSRA provides for multi-employer bargaining and coalition bargaining. Exclusive bargaining representatives of more than one bargaining unit must negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement covering all of the represented employees. Exclusive bargaining representatives that represent fewer than 500 employees must bargain in a coalition, with one master agreement covering all of the employees represented by the coalition.
Summary of Bill:

For DOC employees, the Governor and an exclusive bargaining representative must negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement. Except for exclusive bargaining representatives who represent marine department employees at DOC, exclusive bargaining representatives of interest arbitration-eligible DOC employees are excluded from provisions requiring exclusive bargaining representatives of fewer than 500 employees to bargain by coalition. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

No public hearing was held.
Persons Testifying:

N/A
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying:

N/A