WSR 98-21-043

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT

RELATIONS COMMISSION

[Filed October 14, 1998, 2:25 p.m.]

EO 97-02 Progress Report

of the

Public Employment Relations Commission

The Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) issued its first progress report on October 14, 1997. Since the issuance of that report, PERC has continued its regulatory improvement program. During the last year, PERC has achieved the following:

On June 16, 1998, the commission held a public hearing to adopt amendments to chapter 391-08 WAC involving the rules of practice and procedure before the agency. On the same date, conforming amendments were adopted to five other rule chapters that the agency administers. The agency made an extensive effort to seek input from clientele on the proposed amendments. Three letters were sent (in November 1997 and February and May, 1998), to a group of one hundred union and employer representatives (the agency's "major stakeholders") seeking input on the proposed changes. Workshops were held in March 1998, at the annual labor-management conference sponsored by the agency. The amendments became effective on August 1, 1998.

The commission has just completed a project to update all of its forms that the general public uses to access various services of the agency. This project involved the updating of 11 forms to make them more readable and user-friendly. New forms are posted on the Internet, where they are downloadable for use by clientele.

As part of the second year of PERC's rules review process, the commission is looking at its rules in chapter 391-55 WAC, Impasse resolution and chapter 391-65 WAC, Grievance arbitration. In September 1998, the commission formed a caucus group to solicit input from clientele concerning ways to improve the agency's rules concerning interest arbitration. The caucus consists of five representatives from unions, five representatives from public employers, one arbitrator, and four agency personnel. Three meetings are scheduled during October and November 1998.

During the previous year, PERC has not received any petitions filed under RCW 34.05.330 by persons requesting the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule. PERC does not have any policy and interpretive statements or similar documents. PERC's rules do not impose any reporting requirements on private businesses. PERC has not developed any recommendations for statutory or administrative changes resulting from its regulatory review.

Following please find the agency's progress report in tabular form. If any additional information is needed, please contact PERC's Rule Coordinator, Mark S. Downing, at (360) 753-2955.

Excerpt Applicable to this Agency From:

Results of Regulatory Review

as of October 15, 1997