On May 1, 2024, employees of the Washington Legislature started the process of forming unions to collectively bargain for the first time.

Photo byIan HutchinsononUnsplash

Two groups of Republican workers, legislative assistants for GOP members of the state House and Senate, expressed interest in being represented by the Legislative Professionals Association.

The petitions submitted by these workers will be reviewed by the Public Employment Relations Commission to certify the bargaining unit and conduct an election. The move by Republican employees to unionize under a law most of their bosses opposed showcases the importance of having their voices heard in the workplace.

The Most Expansive Collective Bargaining Law

In 2022, Washington passed a law allowing employees of the House, Senate, and legislative agencies to pursue collective bargaining. This legislation, supported by lawmakers like Sen. Derek Stanford, aims to provide workers with the opportunity to negotiate contracts starting on May 1, 2024.

The law outlines which employees are eligible to unionize and the topics open for negotiations. Full-time partisan employees in the House, Senate, and partisan caucuses can be part of a union, with specific rules on the composition of bargaining units for different departments.

The Process and Preparation

The Public Employment Relations Commission will oversee the certification of bargaining units, elections for union representation, and resolving disputes arising during negotiations.

The Chief Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate will act as employers for contract talks for the House and Senate employees who choose to unionize.

With this new law in place, employees in the legislative branch are undergoing training to understand their rights in the collective bargaining process. The change marks a significant shift in the functioning of the Washington Legislature.

What Are Your Thoughts?

• What do you think about Republican legislative staff being the first to unionize in Washington?
• Do you believe collective bargaining will improve the workplace conditions for legislative assistants?
• How do you think the unionization process will impact the dynamic within the Washington State Legislature?

Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!