On February 29, the House passed SB 5808 on a 92-0 vote. The House did not amend the version of the bill that came out of the Senate, so it has passed the Legislature. It will now go to the Governor’s desk for signature.

The Legislature did not consider AWC’s suggestion to require arbitrators to consider a city’s financial ability to pay in their arbitration decisions, as they do when certain state employees’ contract disputes go to arbitration. The final bill also exempts state-employed public safety telecommunicators (like State Patrol) from the new arbitration requirements.

Senate votes out 911 operators’ arbitration bill

February 9, 2024

SB 5808 was voted out of the Senate on January 31 on a 48-0 vote. The Senate adopted an amendment that exempts state agency-employed public safety telecommunicators (like those at Washington State Patrol) from the new authorization for interest arbitration. The bill is now under consideration in the House.

Dates to remember

SB 5808 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on Wednesday, February 14 at 8 am. It is also scheduled for a committee vote on Friday, February 16 at 10:30 am.

911 operators to arbitrate contract disputes under new bill

January 5, 2024

A new bill that would grant city 911 operators and other public sector public safety telecommunicators the right to pursue interest arbitration under the Public Employees’ Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA) is scheduled for a hearing this week.

Simply put, SB 5808, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D–Sequim), expands the definition of “uniformed personnel” in the PECBA to include public safety telecommunicators employed by a public employer. Public safety telecommunicators are first responders working in a primary public safety answering point who are trained and certified as public safety telecommunicators. This includes city or regional 911 emergency dispatchers and public safety non-emergency dispatchers.

The PECBA governs collective bargaining and rights to organize for state and local government workers, however there are some special provisions and procedures for “uniformed personnel.” Under the PECBA, uniformed personnel cannot participate in a strike, work slowdown, or work stoppage during a labor dispute. But the Act does allow them to submit a CBA negotiation dispute to a mediator during an impasse, and if the impasse persists, pursue binding interest arbitration to settle the impasse. The Act provides for special procedures for convening and holding an interest arbitration.

Importantly, under the PECBA, in interest arbitration involving certain uniformed personnel (those also considered family childcare providers and long-term care providers) and the state, the arbitration panel must consider the state’s ability to pay as one of the factors in their decision. Similar “state’s financial ability” consideration is included in interest arbitration for other types of state public employees like ferry workers, adult family home providers, and language access providers. AWC would like similar consideration given to local governments’ financial ability to pay if more city workers are going to be empowered to pursue interest arbitration.

Dates to remember

SB 5808 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on Tuesday, January 9 at 10:30 am.