Academic employee bargaining

AN ACT Relating to collective bargaining for certain employees 1
who are enrolled in academic programs at public institutions of 2
higher education; adding a new section to chapter 41.56 RCW; and 3
declaring an emergency. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 41.56 6
RCW to read as follows: 7
(1)(a) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.020, this 8
chapter applies to all employees who are enrolled in an academic or 9
certificate program on any campus of Central Washington University, 10
Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The 11
Evergreen State College. 12
(b) For the purposes of collective bargaining under this section, 13
an employee is considered enrolled in an academic or certificate 14
program during campus academic breaks, including any winter, spring, 15
or summer break, if the employee is employed by an institution of 16
higher education covered by (a) of this subsection over the course of 17
the campus academic break and is enrolled in an academic or 18
certificate program on any campus of the institution of higher 19
education in the quarter or semester immediately preceding, or 20
subsequent to, the campus academic break. 21
S-0267.2
SENATE BILL 5119
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Nobles, Stanford, Conway, Frame, Hasegawa, Riccelli,
Saldaña, Shewmake, Valdez, and Wellman
Prefiled 12/27/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Labor & Commerce.
p. 1 SB 5119
(c)(i) For the purposes of this section, "employee" does not 1
include employees eligible for collective bargaining under RCW 2
41.56.021, 41.56.0215, 41.56.022, 41.56.024, 41.56.203, or 41.56.205 3
or chapter 28B.52, 41.76, or 41.80 RCW. 4
(ii) This section does not authorize collective bargaining for 5
employees excluded from collective bargaining under RCW 41.56.021(1) 6
(a) through (e). 7
(2) A bargaining unit of all employees covered by this section is 8
the only appropriate unit for the purposes of collective bargaining 9
under this section. A bargaining unit is not appropriate if it 10
includes more than one institution of higher education.11
(3)(a) The scope of bargaining for employees under this section 12
excludes: 13
(i) The ability to terminate the employment of any individual if 14
the individual is not meeting academic requirements as determined by 15
Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western 16
Washington University, and The Evergreen State College;17
(ii) The amount of tuition or fees at Central Washington 18
University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington 19
University, and The Evergreen State College. However, tuition and fee 20
remission and waiver is within the scope of bargaining;21
(iii) The academic calendar of Central Washington University, 22
Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The 23
Evergreen State College; and 24
(iv) The number of students to be admitted to a particular class 25
or class section at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington 26
University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State 27
College. 28
(b)(i) Except as provided in (b)(ii) of this subsection, 29
provisions of collective bargaining agreements relating to 30
compensation must not exceed the amount or percentage established by 31
the legislature in the appropriations act. If any compensation 32
provision is affected by subsequent modification of the 33
appropriations act by the legislature, both parties must immediately 34
enter into collective bargaining for the sole purpose of arriving at 35
a mutually agreed-upon replacement for the affected provision.36
(ii) Central Washington University, Eastern Washington 37
University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State 38
College may provide additional compensation to student employees 39
p. 2 SB 5119
covered by this section that exceeds that provided by the 1
legislature. 2
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate 3
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 4
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 5
effect immediately.6
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