Title 49, LABOR REGULATIONS

Every employer shall post and keep posted, in a conspicuous place or places on the premises of the employer where notices to workers are customarily posted, the poster required under RCW 49.97.030(1)(a). [ 2026 c 240 s 4.] Notes: Effective date—2026 c 240 ss 4-10: "Sections 4 thr…

(1) Within five business days of receiving notification from a federal agency of any inspection of I-9 forms and any related worker records, an employer shall provide a written notice to each worker and the worker's authorized representative, if any. (2) The notice under this sec…

(1) Within five business days of its receipt of a written notice of results of an inspection of I-9 forms and any related worker records by a federal agency, an employer shall: (a) Provide to each affected worker and the worker's authorized representative, if any, a copy of the w…

(1) Employers are not required by law to perform form I-9 self-audits. Any form I-9 self-audit must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local antidiscrimination and antiretaliation laws including, but not limited to: 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1324b, 29 U.S.C. Secs. 201–219, 29 U.S…

(1) It is unlawful for an employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of any worker's rights provided under or in connection with this chapter. This means an employer may not use a worker's exercise of any of the rights provided under this chapter as a negative fac…

(1) The attorney general has the authority to: (a) Resolve alleged violations of this chapter through conference and conciliation; (b) Investigate potential violations of this chapter on its own initiative or in response to complaints; and (c) Issue written civil investigative de…

(1) A worker, former worker, or a person injured by a violation of this chapter or an organization whose membership includes any such person may bring a private cause of action in superior court to enjoin further violations, recover damages, and seek any other equitable relief or…

This chapter may not be interpreted, construed, or applied to restrict or limit an employer's compliance with a memorandum of understanding governing the use of the federal E-Verify system or with federal law and regulations regarding employers' verification of workers' authoriza…

If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is found to be in conflict with any other federal or state law or otherwise held invalid, the conflicting or invalid provision is inoperative solely to the extent of such conflict or holding and the…

Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit or affect: (1) The right of any worker to pursue any judicial, administrative, or other action available with respect to an employer; (2) the department of labor and industries' authority to pursue any judicial, administrative, or…

This act may be known and cited as the immigrant worker protection act. [ 2026 c 240 s 14.]

(1) The legislature finds and declares the following: (a) High quality child care and early learning enable parents to go to work, keeping the economy going at all levels and returning six dollars in value for every one dollar invested. High quality early learning services help p…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Board" means the Washington state child care workforce standards board established pursuant to this chapter. (2)(a) "Child care employer" means any employer of child …

(1) The Washington state child care workforce standards board is created with the powers and duties established by law. The board is composed of members appointed by the governor as provided in this subsection: (a) Three members who represent child care workers, subject to the fo…

(1)(a) The board must meet quarterly and make recommendations to the director that will enhance and improve the employment standards of child care workers. The board must recommend statewide standards and may also recommend standards that apply to specific child care occupations …

By October 1, 2026, the department and the department of children, youth, and families must jointly enter into a formal agreement that includes data sharing of information necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter. [ 2026 c 148 s 5.]

This act may be known and cited as the child care workforce standards board act. [ 2026 c 148 s 6.]

Access to the collective and individual protections afforded by established federal labor laws, as well as ensuring stable, effective, and efficient labor-management relations, is a vital state interest that has critical benefits to the state's economic and social development. Sh…

Following June 11, 2026, should federal law cease to preempt the regulation of private sector labor-management relations in the state, as a whole or any portion thereof, with regard to any employer, employees, trade, or industry which had been subject to federal labor law regulat…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Bargaining representative" means any labor organization which has as one of its primary purposes the representation of employees in their employment relations with em…

The privilege established by RCW 5.60.060(11) applies to all labor organizations covered by this chapter and in all proceedings authorized by this chapter. [ 2026 c 130 s 4.]

Upon application by a labor organization that held the status of an exclusive bargaining representative under federal law by certification or voluntary recognition immediately prior to the time that state regulation of private sector labor relations is no longer preempted as appl…

(1) In the event that an employer and employees are in disagreement as to the selection of an exclusive bargaining representative, the commission must be invited to intervene as is provided in RCW 49.99.100 through 49.99.130. (2) In the event that an employer and an exclusive bar…

The commission, after hearing upon reasonable notice, shall decide in each application for certification as an exclusive bargaining representative or unit clarification, other than applications submitted under RCW 49.99.050, the unit appropriate for the purpose of collective barg…

The commission shall determine the exclusive bargaining representative by: (1) Conducting a cross-check pursuant to RCW 49.99.090; or (2) conducting an election pursuant to RCW 49.99.100. [ 2026 c 130 s 8.]

(1) If only one labor organization is seeking certification as an exclusive bargaining representative of a bargaining unit for which there is no incumbent exclusive bargaining representative, the commission may determine the question concerning representation by conducting a cros…

(1) 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 30 percent representation of the employees within the proposed uni…

No question concerning representation may be raised within one year of a certification or attempted certification. Where there is a valid collective bargaining agreement in effect, no question of representation may be raised except during the period not more than 90 nor less than…

(1) The commission shares concurrent jurisdiction with superior courts to prevent and to remedy any violation of RCW 49.32.020 with regard to any employer, employees, trade, or industry covered under this chapter that had been subject to federal labor law regulation. (2) The comm…

The commission shall provide, at the mutual request of an employer and an exclusive bargaining representative, mediation of any labor dispute between them. Any party to mediation may request and receive fact finding by the mediator at the conclusion of a failed mediation. [ 2026 …

(1) Notwithstanding the possible cessation of any duty on the part of any employer or labor organization to comply with the terms of any collective bargaining agreement reached under the auspices of federal labor law, any such agreement reached between any employer or exclusive b…

(1) If an agreement through collective bargaining has not been reached within six months of certification, or within six months of the expiration of the last collective bargaining agreement, the parties may agree in writing to continue to bargain for an additional month. Thereaft…

(1) In addition to any contractually agreed method for selecting arbitrators, the parties may mutually request the commission to, and the commission shall, appoint a qualified person who may be an employee of the commission to act as an arbitrator to assist in the resolution of a…

Nothing in this chapter, except as specifically provided for herein, interferes with, impedes, or diminishes in any way the right to strike. However, a labor organization, before engaging in any strike or other concerted refusal to work at any health care institution shall, not l…

An employer engaged primarily in the building and construction industry may make an agreement covering employees engaged, or who upon their employment will be engaged in the building and construction industry, with a labor organization of which building and construction employees…

The commission shall promulgate, revise, or rescind such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or appropriate to administer the provisions of this chapter in conformity with the intent and purpose of this chapter and consistent with the best standards of labor-management re…

Actions taken by or on behalf of the commission must be pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, or rules adopted in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, and the right of judicial review provided by chapter 34.05 RCW is applicable to all such actions and rules. However, if a conflict exists …

(1) The Washington state legislature is purposefully designed to be a part-time legislature to provide people from all areas of life the opportunity to participate. All businesses and industries, in the private and public sector, benefit when the legislature is made up of the bro…

For the purposes of this chapter, "employer" means: (1) The state, state institutions, and state agencies; and (2) any unit of local government including, but not limited to, a county, city, town, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, or political subdivision. [ 202…

(1) An employer must grant a temporary leave of absence without loss of job status or seniority to an employee who is a member of the state legislature in order for that employee to perform any official duty as a member of the legislature during regular and special legislative se…

(1) An employee who seeks leave under this chapter must provide the employer with notice of the employee's intention to take leave at least 30 days before a regular legislative session. (2) When a special legislative session is called, the employee must provide notice to the empl…

If an employer violates the provisions of this chapter, the employee may only bring a civil action, at his or her own expense, in superior court for an order requiring the reinstatement of the employee. Public resources may not be used, directly or indirectly, to bring or maintai…

The legislature recognizes that fire protection measures are critical design elements meant to control the spread of a fire until active fire protection measures, such as sprinklers, fire extinguishers, or the fire department can take over and control a fire. Among the types of p…

The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 49.105.020 through 49.105.040 unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Fire-resistant material" means: (a) Wet or dry mix materials, cementitious materials, and fibrous materials, applied to achieve an hourly fire-re…

(1) Every individual applying fire-resistant material for or as a contractor must be certified by the department. To qualify for certification, the individual must complete initial training and must complete refresher training every five years for recertification. (2) All trainin…

(1) Beginning January 1, 2026, contractors must ensure all fire-resistant material is applied by a certified fire-resistant material applicator prior to the individual applying any fire-resistant material. A contractor must verify that the individual is certified by the departmen…