H-4468              _______________________________________________

                                           SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 747

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Walk, Schmidt, Wang, Zellinsky and Fisch; by request of Department of Transportation)

Read first time 1/27/88 and passed to Committee on Rules.

AN ACT Relating to salary surveys by the marine employees' commission; amending RCW 47.64.006 and 47.64.220; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 15, Laws of 1983 and RCW  47.64.006 are each amended to read as follows:

          The legislature declares that it is the public policy of the state of Washington to:  (1) Provide continuous operation of the Washington state ferry system at reasonable cost to users; (2) efficiently provide levels of ferry service consistent with trends and forecasts of ferry usage; (3) promote harmonious and cooperative relationships between the ferry system and its employees by permitting ferry employees to organize and bargain collectively; (4) protect the citizens of this state by assuring effective and orderly operation of the ferry system in providing for their health, safety, and welfare; (5) prohibit and prevent all strikes or work stoppages by ferry employees; (6) protect the rights of ferry employees with respect to employee organizations; and (7) promote equality in compensation, benefits, and working conditions between ferry system employees((, private sector employees within the state, and other Washington state employees in directly comparable positions)) and those employees referenced in RCW 47.64.220.

        Sec. 2.  Section 13, chapter 15, Laws of 1983 and RCW 47.64.220 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((Prior to collective bargaining,)) The marine employees' commission shall conduct a salary survey which shall be a public document comparing wages, hours, employee benefits, and conditions of employment of involved ferry employees with those of private and public sector maritime and nonmaritime employees ((within the state and Washington state employees doing)) on the west coast and sheltered waters of the United States and Canada.  The survey shall identify directly comparable work, whenever possible, giving consideration to factors peculiar to the area and the classifications involved.  The commission shall make such other findings of fact and provide such supplementary information as ((the parties)) may ((request during)) be needed to facilitate bargaining or to resolve an impasse.  The survey shall be submitted to the transportation commission, the unions representing ferry employees, the governor, and the transportation committees of the state legislature ninety days before the expiration date of the existing contracts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.