The petition in Case No. 2065-E-79-379 was filed with the Public Employment Relations Commission on May 1, 1979. It requests decertification of Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local 8, as exclusive bargaining representative of office clerical employees of the employer. The petition in Case No. 2076-E-79-382 was filed with the Commission on May 7, 1979. It alleges that the employees desire to change their designation of bargaining representative. Both cases were filed at a time when Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local 8, and the employer were engaged in interest arbitration proceedings before the Commission under the provisions of RCW 47.64. Those proceedings were conducted in Case No. 1702-U-78-53. A separate order is issued in that case today requiring the parties to enter into collective bargaining agreement for the period July 1, 1978 through June 30, 1980.

The Commission subscribes to the principles of “contract bar”, as described in RCW 41.56.070, RCW 41.59.070 and WAC 391-50-100(1), all of which are similar to the decisional policies of the National Labor Relations Board. Whether conducted in the midst of interest arbitration proceedings or in the middle of a contract term, unlimited access to representation proceedings tends to undermine the stability of collective bargaining relationships and is counter-productive to the statutory policy of sound labor relations.

NOW, THEREFORE, it is

ORDERED

The petitions for investigation of questions concerning representation filed in the above-entitled matters are dismissed as untimely.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

[SIGNED]

MARY ELLEN KRUG, Chairman,

[SIGNED]

PAUL A. ROBERTS, Commissioner

Commissioner Don E. Olson, Jr. did not participate in the consideration or decision of these cases

DATED at Olympia, Washington this 9th day of November 1979.