By Jim Cline

In another setback for Kitsap County, the Public Employment Relations Commission upheld a previous ruling that a Kitsap County Deputy prosecutor unlawfully undermined an agreement that had been reached between the Kitsap Dispatchers Guild and the County. InKitsap County, Decision 11675-A (PECB 2013), the Commission held that it was a breach of the County’s duty to bargain “in good faith” when it refused to ratify an agreement that it had already informed the Guild was agreeable to the County commissioners. [Read more…]

By Jim Cline

The Kitsap Deputies Guild last week prevailed on their motion for Summary Judgment before Pierce County Judge James Orlando, that an arbitrator imposed health insurance employee contribution increase should be stricken from an interest arbitration decision.  He agreed with the Guild’s claims that the contributions were an unconstitutional “taking” and a violation of the state wage withholding law. Although the County vows to appeal, this case becomes the first known instance in which binding interest arbitrator decision has been modified by a Court.

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By Therese Norton

Unions have a legitimate interest in preserving work that their bargaining units historically perform.  Thus, it can be an unfair labor practice for an employer to refuse to bargain any decision to transfer or ”skim” bargaining unit work.  Recently, Everett Community College challenged the Commission’s ruling that it committed an unfair labor practice when it skimmed bargaining unit work previously performed by full-time counselors, without providing an opportunity for bargaining.  Everett Community College, Decision 11135-C (CCOL, 2013) 

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