Title
A MOTION amending the binding interest arbitration policy in the county's comprehensive labor policies, LP 2010-0031.
Body
WHEREAS, there exists in King County a policy against strikes by essential personnel as a means of settling their labor disputes, and
WHEREAS, the uninterrupted and dedicated service of these essential employees is vital to the public health, safety, and welfare of the county, and
WHEREAS, to promote such dedicated and uninterrupted public service there should exist an effective and adequate alternative means of settling labor disputes, and
WHEREAS, the binding interest arbitration process established by state law in RCW Chapter 41.56 is limited to uniformed personnel, as defined in RCW 41.56.030(13), and
WHEREAS, there are other essential personnel, besides those covered by the state interest arbitration statute, the absence of whose services would pose an immediate and dire threat to the public health, safety, and welfare, including court protection officers, 911 (including E911) operators, and certain members of the King County Juvenile Detention Guild;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The Binding Interest Arbitration policy in the county's comprehensive labor policies, adopted on July 14, 2010, is hereby amended as follows:
Binding Interest Arbitration: It shall be the policy of King County that binding interest arbitration only be extended to those represented groups of County employees where the provision of service by those employees is essential and absence of which would pose an immediate and dire threat to the public health, safety and welfare.
Those groups include, in addition to those entitled to binding interest arbitration pursuant to applicable state law: court protection officers, 911 (including E911) operators, juvenile detention officers, and those other members of the King County Juvenile Detention Guild whose services are essential and the absence of which would pose an immediate and dire threat to the public health, safety, and welfare.