Washington Labor and Employment Blog
The latest case law and legal developments in Washington labor & employment law.
By Therese Norton
In Port of Seattle, the Public Employee Relations Commission affirmed Examiner Martin’s ruling that the Port of Seattle did not discriminate against a shop steward when a supervisor “coached” him in his duties. Decision 11848-A (PECB, 2014). The Commission also affirmed Examiner Martin’s ruling that the Port of Seattle did not interfere with the shop steward’s collective bargaining rights through statements made by his supervisor.
By Emily Nelson
In Brownfield v. City of Yakima, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division III, found that Yakima police officer Oscar Brownfield, fired for insubordination in 2007, failed to support his claim that he was actually fired because of a disability. The Court held that his refusal to submit to a fitness for duty examination, not the disability that led to the examination requested was the proximate cause of the discharge.
By Therese Norton
In State – Corrections, PERC Examiner Emily Whitney dismissed a discrimination and interference complaint brought by the Teamsters Local 117 against the Washington State Department of Corrections. Decision 12002 (PSRA, 2014). The Teamsters alleged that the Department discriminated against a corrections sergeant who had previously testified in a separate PERC unfair labor practice hearing by investigating him regarding the distribution of a “sensitive” video and by denying him a promotional opportunity. Separately, the Teamsters alleged that the Department made statements that interfered with the collective bargaining rights of a unit member and shop steward.
By Therese Norton
In Kittitas County Public Hospital District 1, PERC Examiner Page Garcia dismissed the Washington State Nurses Association’s complaint that Kittitas Valley Healthcare refused to bargain in violation of state labor law by making a unilateral change to the past practice of allowing the Association to post its materials at the hospital. Decision 11992 (PECB, 2014). Generally, union use of bulletin boards has been found to constitute a mandatory subject of bargaining, and in this case, the Examiner again determined that any change in how bulletin boards were used at the hospital would have to be bargained with the union. Ultimately, however, Examiner Garcia ruled that the Association failed to establish the existence of a past practice to post materials at all department break room bulletin boards, in addition to the single union designated bulletin board. As a result, the union could not carry its burden that a unilateral change violation had occurred. [Read more…]
By Jim Cline
A recent decision by PERC hearing examiner in Lake Washington School District and described in more detail in our recent blog article serves as an important reminder to pay close attention to all timelines. Although this decision arose in the context of an unfair labor practice complaint and PERC six-month statute of limitations, the same lesson applies in the processing of grievances under your labor contract.
By Therese Norton
In Lake Washington School District, Examiner Page A. Garcia dismissed the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 46’s skimming complaint as untimely under Chapter 41.56 RCW. The examiner concluded that the District provided “clear and unequivocal notice” to IBEW Local 46 in a letter to the union’s business representative, which falls outside of the six-month statute of limitations. Lake Washington School District, Decision 11913 (PECB, 2013)
By Therese Norton
In a re
cent decision, PERC Hearing Examiner Robin A. Romeo dismissed an interference complaint brought by some state community colleges against the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA). Bellevue Community College, Decision 11469-A (PSRA, 2013). The community college employers alleged that WPEA had interfered with its right to select its bargaining representative, a multi-college coalition representative called the Labor Relations Office (LRO). They alleged WPEA committed an unfair labor practice when it communicated directly with the employer and attempted to sever the relationship between the colleges and the LRO. Examiner Romeo looked at the specific language of the Personnel System Reform Act of 2002 (the law covering collective bargaining for most Washington State government employees) and concluded, “Nowhere in the statute does it state that it is an unfair labor practice for an employee organization to interfere with or discourage an employer in its choice of representative.”
By Anthony Rice
In Pacific County, Arbitrator Guy Coss (PERC staff examiner assigned to arbitrate) found the County lacked just cause for suspending a sheriff’s deputy since the County failed to consider mitigating factors in a dog bite case. [Read more…]
By Therese Norton
In a recent decision, the Washington Court of Appeals reinforced the fundamental right state employees have in Washington “to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing” and not one unilaterally imposed by the employer. Division One Court of Appeals affirmed the Public Employee Relations Commission’s ruling that the University of Washington committed an unfair labor practice when it insisted on moving a group of hospital employees to a bargaining unit represented by a different union as a condition of reallocating them to a position with a higher pay grade.
By Therese Norton
In a recent decision, PERC Hearing Examiner Page A. Garcia held that the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots union provided employees with adequate notice and opportunity to vote on the ratification of tentative agreements the union had negotiated with the Washington State Ferries. Washington State Ferries, Decision 11899 (MRNE, 2013).
