Governor signs legislation backed by Clark County lawmaker
OLYMPIA – A measure advanced by state Rep. Jim Moeller “to re-emphasize economic efficiency and good common sense in the public-employee-bargaining process” has become the law of the state.
Moeller’s House Bill 1127 “simply directs that If the employer and the bargaining representative agree, bargaining units should be consolidated.
“Sometimes over time it makes sense to combine multiple units,” he explained of the legislation. “It’s more efficient to bargain together. This bill makes the process more efficient and makes good economic sense.”
Terms of the measure direct that the employer and the bargaining representative must consider whether such a consolidation lives up to the letter of the law.
Moeller’s bill also states that it will be an “unfair labor practice” if a public employer refuses to negotiate with the bargaining representative, or attempts to negotiate with someone who isn’t authorized by the bargaining representative to engage in said negotiations.
Washington law – the Public Employees’ Collective Bargaining Act – requires that local-government employees and some other public employees have a right to organize and designate collective-bargaining representatives.
The Public Employment Relations Commission decides the unit that is appropriate for the purpose of collective-bargaining activities. In determining, modifying, or combining a bargaining unit, the commission is required to consider:
* The duties, skills, and working conditions of the employees.
* The history of collective bargaining by the employees and their bargaining representatives.
* The extent of organization among the employees.
* The desire of the employees.
Moeller is a member of the House Labor & Workforce Development Committee where the legislation was first discussed earlier this year. The measure cleared the House of Representatives, 93-2, and the Senate, 47-0.