Leonard Smith, Director of Organizing, appeared on behalf of the petitioner.

Brad Garrett, Labor Relations Manager, appeared on behalf of the employer.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1.                  The above‑named petitioner filed with the Public Employment Relations Commission a petition for investigation of a question concerning representation of employees of the above-named employer. The petition was timely filed and was accompanied by a showing of interest which was administratively deter­mined by the Commission to be suffi­cient.

2.                  Following an investigation conference­, the Commission proceeded with determina­tion of the question concerning representation, and issues framed concerning the eligibil­ity of certain employ­ees for inclusion in the bargain­ing unit were reserved for subsequent determination.

3.                  These representa­tion proceedings were conducted by the Commis­sion in the bargaining unit described as:

ALL NON-SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES COVERED UNDER RCW 41.80 OF THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AT: AIRWAY HEIGHTS CORRECTIONS CENTER, CEDAR CREEK CORRECTIONS CENTER, CLALLAM BAY CORRECTIONS CENTER, COYOTE RIDGE CORRECTIONS CENTER, LARCH CORRECTIONS CENTER, MCNEIL ISLAND CORRECTIONS CENTER, MONROE CORRECTIONS CENTER, OLYMPIC CORRECTIONS, STAFFORD CREEK CORRECTIONS CENTER, WASHINGTON CORRECTIONS CENTER, WASHING­TON CORRECTIONS CENTER FOR WOMEN, WASHINGTON STATE PENITENTIARY, CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES PROGRAM, SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT PROGRAM AND REGIONAL BUSINESS SERVICE CENTER, EXCLUDING SUPERVISORS, CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES AND WMS EMPLOYEES.

4.                  All proceedings were conducted under the supervision of the Commission in a manner designed to afford the affected employ­ees a free choice in the selection of a bargaining representa­tive, if any; a tally of the results was previously fur­nished to the parties and is attached hereto; the reserved eligibili­ty issues do not affect the outcome of the question concerning representation; and no meritori­ous objections have been filed with respect to these proceed­ings.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

1.                  The unit described in paragraph 3 of the foregoing Findings of Fact is an appropriate unit for the purposes of collective bargaining within the meaning of RCW 41.80.

2.                  All conditions precedent to issuance of an interim certifica­tion have been met.

NOW, THEREFORE, it is

CERTIFIED

1.                  The employees of the above-named employer in the appropriate bargaining unit described in paragraph 3 of the foregoing Findings of Fact have chosen:

TEAMSTERS UNION, LOCAL 117

as their exclusive bargain­ing representative for the purpose of collective bargain­ing with their employer.

2.                  The above-captioned matter is remanded for further proceedings on the eligibility issues reserved as described in paragraph 2 of the foregoing Findings of Fact.

Issued at Olympia, Washington, this 8th day of April, 2004.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

[SIGNED]

KATRINA I. BOEDECKER, Field Services Manager