On August 22, 1986, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 17 filed a petition with the Public Employment Relations Commission pursuant to Chapter 391-35 WAC, seeking clarification of an existing bargaining unit of employees of the City of Seattle. A pre-hearing conference was conducted on May 5, 1987, and a Statement of Results of Pre-Hearing Conference was issued on May 13, 1987.

As set forth in the statement of results, the issue to be decided in these proceedings concerned the allocation of certain untitled positions in the city's Solid Waste Division to one of two bargaining units. International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 17, and Public Service and Industrial Employees, Local 1239, had both claimed interest in the positions at issue. During the course of the pre-hearing conference, the employer agreed to prepare job descriptions to assist in the determination of the unit clarification petition.

On June 18, 1987, the employer forwarded copies of the class specification for the positions in dispute. The positions were titled "Environmental Field Specialist". According to the information supplied by the employer, the employee holding the newly designated position would be responsible for a number of duties associated with monitoring landfill locations. On September 16, 1987, the employer provided additional information indicating that three (3) employees would be placed in the new classification.

Prior to any further action in the unit clarification proceedings before the Commission, the employer, Local 17, and Local 1239 discussed the matter, and Local 1239 relinquished all claims to the new positions. On January 15, 1988, Local 17 filed a "motion for directed order of certification", claiming to be the representative of the Environmental Field Specialists. In that correspondence, Local 17 asserted that the employer took a neutral stance in the unit clarification case, and that the only issue was jurisdictional between the two unions. Review of the case file confirmed that the employer did not take an active position about the bargaining unit placement of the new positions. Since Local 1239 withdrew interest in the matter, it appeared that no further proceedings were necessary.

On February 29, 1988, a letter was directed to the employer, Local 17, and Local 1239, explaining that the unit clarification proceedings could be closed based on the evident agreement of the parties to have the new positions considered part of Local 17's bargaining unit. The parties were given until March 14, 1988 to show cause why an order clarifying bargaining unit should not be issued. The Commission has not received any response from any of the parties.

ORDER CLARIFYING BARGAINING UNIT

Based on the stipulations and actions or inaction of the parties in this matter, the bargaining unit of City of Seattle "technical" employees represented by International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 17 is hereby clarified to contain the position of Environmental Field Specialist.

DATED at Olympia, Washington, this 30th day of March, 1988.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

[SIGNED]

MARVIN L. SCHURKE, Executive Director