By Jennifer Sullivan
From The Seattle Times
SEATTLE -- Legislation that would give state corrections officers the right to negotiate over workplace-safety issues -- and go to binding arbitration if the dispute was not resolved -- will not reach the Senate floor this session.
On Friday, HB 2011 did not pass out of the Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, according to legislative staff.
However, the committee passed another corrections bill, SB 5907, that was amended to include a section that would allow for collective bargaining with regards to work-place safety issues. The measure does not allow binding arbitration, though.
Gov. Chris Gregoire’s budget office and the Department of Corrections opposed the House bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett. The governor’s budget office released a letter this week saying the proposal could have “significant budget implications.”
Read more at SeattleTimes.com.