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Bill would exempt DOC employees with interest arbitration from coalition bargaining requirement
Summary
House Bill 1105 would exempt Department of Corrections employees who have interest arbitration rights from the Personnel System Reform Act’s coalition bargaining requirement, streamlining separate bargaining timelines.
The committee heard House Bill 1105, a limited change that would exempt Department of Corrections employees who have interest arbitration rights from the state’s coalition‑bargaining requirement under the Personnel System Reform Act. Supporters described the bill as a small bipartisan fix to reduce administrative friction when DOC units sit at large master bargaining tables.
Vice Chair Rep. Terrence Fosse, sponsor of the bill, said the change “will streamline the bargaining process for OFM, the state, and the union” and does not expand arbitration rights or change other unions’ processes. Katie Durkin of the Washington Federation of State Employees said the amendment addresses timing clashes that arise when DOC members exercise interest arbitration while the general government bargaining table completes a master agreement, calling the change a narrow procedural alignment.
Doug Chaput and other DOC bargaining delegates testified that the change would help DOC representatives negotiate terms that reflect the unique nature of community corrections without disrupting the broader master bargaining timeline. The proposal drew supportive testimony and was presented as non‑controversial and technical in nature.
No committee vote was recorded during the hearing; the bill was advanced for committee consideration with supportive testimony from labor representatives and the sponsor.
Lede closing: HB 1105 aims to exempt DOC employees with interest arbitration from coalition bargaining, allowing smoother, separate timelines for DOC negotiations.
