Bill > SB6135

This bill amends existing law concerning interest arbitration, a process used to resolve disputes between employers and uniformed personnel (such as police officers and firefighters) when they cannot reach an agreement on a new contract. Specifically, it expands the factors that an arbitration panel must consider when making decisions about wages, hours, and working conditions for various groups of uniformed personnel. For certain city and county employees in smaller jurisdictions, the panel must now also consider regional cost of living differences. For employees covered under RCW 41.56.030(14)(a) through (d), the panel must compare their compensation and benefits to similar personnel in similar-sized employers on the west coast and assess the employer's financial ability to pay. Similarly, for public fire departments, the panel must consider west coast comparisons and the employer's financial ability, but only if comparable employers within Washington are not sufficient. The bill also adds specific considerations for child care providers and publicly reimbursed personnel providing services to the elderly or disabled, including comparisons to similar roles across the United States and the employer's financial capacity, with additional considerations for the public interest in workforce stability and reducing reliance on public benefits.

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https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6135&Year=2025&Initiative=false