Title 41, PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, CIVIL SERVICE, AND PENSIONS

(1) In the event that a public employer and public employees are in disagreement as to the selection of a bargaining representative, the commission shall be invited to intervene as is provided in RCW 41.56.090, 41.56.211, 41.56.221, and 41.56.240. (2) If a single employee organiz…

(1) The commission, after hearing upon reasonable notice, shall decide in each application for certification as an exclusive bargaining representative, the unit appropriate for the purpose of collective bargaining. In determining, modifying, or combining the bargaining unit, the …

In the event the commission elects to conduct an election to ascertain the exclusive bargaining representative, and upon the request of a prospective bargaining representative showing written proof of at least thirty percent representation of the public employees within the unit,…

(1) Except as provided under subsection (2) of this section, if only one employee organization is seeking certification as the exclusive bargaining representative of a bargaining unit for which there is no incumbent exclusive bargaining representative, the commission may determin…

The bargaining representative which has been determined to represent a majority of the employees in a bargaining unit shall be certified by the commission as the exclusive bargaining representative of, and shall be required to represent, all the public employees within the unit w…

(1) A public employer shall have the authority to engage in collective bargaining with the exclusive bargaining representative and no public employer shall refuse to engage in collective bargaining with the exclusive bargaining representative. However, a public employer is not re…

(1) After the termination date of a collective bargaining agreement, all of the terms and conditions specified in the collective bargaining agreement shall remain in effect until the effective date of a subsequent agreement, not to exceed one year from the termination date stated…

Whenever a collective bargaining agreement between a public employer and a bargaining representative is concluded after the termination date of the previous collective bargaining agreement between the same parties, the effective date of such collective bargaining agreement may be…

Subject to RCW 41.58.070, a collective bargaining agreement may provide for binding arbitration of a labor dispute arising from the application or the interpretation of the matters contained in a collective bargaining agreement. [ 2021 c 13 s 2; 2019 c 230 s 11; 1975 1st ex.s. c …

Except for law enforcement personnel grievance arbitrations subject to RCW 41.58.070, in addition to any other method for selecting arbitrators, the parties may request the public employment relations commission to, and the commission shall, appoint a qualified person who may be …

(1) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter applies to employees of institutions of higher education who are exempted from civil service pursuant to RCW 41.06.070(2), with the following exceptions: (a) Executive employees, including all members of the go…

In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter shall apply to the University of Washington with respect to the printing craft employees in the department of printing at the University of Washington. [ 1987 c 484 s 1. Formerly RCW 41.56.022.]

In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter applies to postdoctoral and clinical employees as excluded in chapter 41.76 RCW at the University of Washington and at Washington State University. [ 2012 c 255 s 1. Formerly RCW 41.56.513.]

In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter shall apply to classified employees of technical colleges as provided for in RCW 28B.50.874. [ 1991 c 238 s 112. Formerly RCW 41.56.024.]

(1) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter applies to employees who are enrolled in an academic program and are in a classification covered in subsection (2) of this section on any campus of Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, …

(1) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter applies to the University of Washington with respect to employees who are enrolled in an academic program and are in a classification in (a) through (i) of this subsection on any University of Washington campus…

(1) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter applies to Washington State University with respect to employees who are enrolled in an academic program and are in a classification in (a) through (g) of this subsection on any Washington State University camp…

(1)(a) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter applies to all nonacademic student employees not covered by RCW 41.56.421 who are enrolled in an academic or certificate program on any campus of Western Washington University and includes nonacademic studen…

The intent and purpose of chapter 131, Laws of 1973 is to recognize that there exists a public policy in the state of Washington against strikes by uniformed personnel as a means of settling their labor disputes; that the uninterrupted and dedicated service of these classes of em…

Negotiations between a public employer and the bargaining representative in a unit of uniformed personnel shall be commenced at least five months prior to the submission of the budget to the legislative body of the public employer. If no agreement has been reached sixty days afte…

If an agreement has not been reached following a reasonable period of negotiations and mediation, and the executive director, upon the recommendation of the assigned mediator, finds that the parties remain at impasse, then an interest arbitration panel shall be created to resolve…

An interest arbitration panel created pursuant to RCW 41.56.521, in the performance of its duties under chapter 41.56 RCW, exercises a state function and is, for the purposes of this chapter, a state agency. Chapter 34.05 RCW does not apply to proceedings before an interest arbit…

(1) In making its determination, the panel shall be mindful of the legislative purpose enumerated in RCW 41.56.501 and, as additional standards or guidelines to aid it in reaching a decision, the panel shall consider: (a) The constitutional and statutory authority of the employer…

During the pendency of the proceedings before the arbitration panel, existing wages, hours, and other conditions of employment shall not be changed by action of either party without the consent of the other but a party may so consent without prejudice to his or her rights or posi…

If the representative of either or both the uniformed personnel and the public employer refuse to submit to the procedures set forth in RCW 41.56.511 and 41.56.521, the parties, or the commission on its own motion, may invoke the jurisdiction of the superior court for the county …

The right of uniformed employees to engage in any strike, work slowdown, or stoppage is not granted. An organization recognized as the bargaining representative of uniformed employees subject to this chapter that willfully disobeys a lawful order of enforcement by a superior cour…

(1) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter applies to the state with respect to the officers of the Washington state patrol appointed under RCW 43.43.020, except that the state is prohibited from negotiating any matters relating to retirement benefits o…

In addition to the classes of employees listed in RCW 41.56.030(14), the provisions of RCW 41.56.501 through 41.56.525 and 41.56.535, 41.56.540, and 41.56.545 also apply to Washington state patrol officers appointed under RCW 43.43.020 as provided in this section, subject to the …

In addition to the classes of employees listed in RCW 41.56.030(14), the provisions of RCW 41.56.501, 41.56.511, 41.56.521, 41.56.525, 41.56.535, 41.56.540, and 41.56.545 also apply to fish and wildlife officers as provided in this section. If more than one exclusive bargaining u…

In addition to the classes of employees listed in RCW 41.56.030(14), the provisions of RCW 41.56.501 through 41.56.525, 41.56.535, 41.56.540, and 41.56.545 shall also be applicable to the employees of a public passenger transportation system of a metropolitan municipal corporatio…

(1) In order to assure the uninterrupted and dedicated service of employees employed by employees of operators of certain commercial nuclear plants, the provisions of RCW 41.56.501 through 41.56.535, 41.56.540, and 41.56.545 shall apply to the operating and maintenance employees …

RCW 41.56.010 through 41.56.900 and 41.06.150 shall be known as the "Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act" and shall take effect on July 1, 1967. [ 1967 ex.s. c 108 s 14.]

The provisions of this chapter are intended to be additional to other remedies and shall be liberally construed to accomplish their purpose. Except as provided in RCW 53.18.015, 41.58.070, 43.101.095, and 43.101.135, if any provision of this chapter conflicts with any other statu…

Nothing in this chapter may be construed to grant school district employers or classified school district employees the right to reach agreements that are in conflict with the termination provisions of RCW 28A.400.320. [ 2009 c 396 s 11.]

It is the intent of the legislature to reorganize chapter 41.56 RCW into subchapters to simplify navigation of the statute. The legislature does not intend to make, and no provision of chapter 290, Laws of 2025 may be construed as making, a substantive change to the provisions of…

If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies dire…

(1) It is the intent of the legislature by the adoption of chapter 296, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess. to provide, in the area of public employment, for the more uniform and impartial (a) adjustment and settlement of complaints, grievances, and disputes arising out of employer-employ…

(1) There is hereby created the public employment relations commission (hereafter called the "commission") to administer the provisions of this chapter. Notwithstanding RCW 41.58.100, the commission shall consist of three members who shall be citizens appointed by the governor by…

(1) Each member of the commission shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.250. Members of the commission shall also be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties on the same basis as is provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. (2) …

(1) It shall be the duty of the commission, in order to prevent or minimize interruptions growing out of labor disputes, to assist employers and employees to settle such disputes through mediation and fact-finding. (2) The commission, through the director, may proffer its service…

The principal office of the commission shall be in the city of Olympia, but it may meet and exercise any or all of its powers at any other place in the state. [ 1975 1st ex.s. c 296 s 5.]

In order to prevent or minimize disruptions to the public welfare growing out of labor disputes, employers and employees and their representatives shall: (1) Exert every reasonable effort to make and maintain agreements concerning rates of pay, hours, and working conditions, incl…

The commission shall have authority from time to time to make, amend, and rescind, in the manner prescribed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. [ 2011 1st sp.s. c 16 s …

For any matter concerning the state ferry system and employee relations, collective bargaining, or labor disputes or stoppages, the provisions of this chapter and chapter 47.64 RCW shall govern. However, if a conflict exists between this chapter and chapter 47.64 RCW, this chapte…

(1) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in this subsection have the meanings given them. (a) "Employer" means a political subdivision or law enforcement agency employing law enforcement personnel. (b)(i) "Law enforcement personnel" means: (A) Any individual employed…

(1) For any new organizing petition to form a new bargaining unit of currently unrepresented workers or to add unrepresented workers to an existing bargaining unit, regardless of whether the election is by mail ballot or cross-check, the public employment relations commission mus…