Committee briefed on bill granting interest arbitration to parks employees; supporters cite recruitment and retention concerns

Committee staff briefed members on substitute House Bill 11 82, which would extend interest arbitration rights to civil service parks and recreation employees, excluding confidential employees and internal auditors.

Interest arbitration is a process that resolves collective bargaining disputes by submitting unresolved issues to an arbitration panel whose decision is binding. Staff said a fiscal note will be added to the bill packet. Committee staff reported an estimated cost of about $1.3 million per biennium to support extending interest arbitration to parks employees; those costs are primarily staffing and arbitration‑related expenses at the Office of Financial Management (OFM) with portions billed back to Washington State Parks.

Public testimony was strongly supportive from parks maintenance workers, ranger staff and union leaders. Speakers representing Local 14‑66 of the Washington Federation of State Employees described recruitment and retention challenges in Park law enforcement and maintenance positions, cited turnover and the high cost to recruit and train new staff, and said interest arbitration would help the bargaining unit secure competitive wages.

Committee staff did not take a vote. Staff said the fiscal note reflects costs for arbitrators, hearings, salary surveys and document preparation, and that some costs would be billed to Parks from OFM.