King County, Decision 13302 (PECB, 2021)

STATE OF WASHINGTON

BEFORE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

Xuan-Trang Tran-Thien, Union Organizer, for PROTEC17.

David Levin, Labor Relations Negotiator-Senior, for King County.

Findings of Fact

1.                  PROTEC17 filed a representation petition concerning the Business and Financial Officer at the King County Department of Community and Human Services (excluding employees in the Business and Finance Section). The Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) determined the petition was timely filed and accompanied by a sufficient showing of interest. No other organization claimed to represent the employees involved.

2.                  The existing bargaining unit, last certified in King County, Decision 13156-A (PECB, 2020), represented by PROTEC17 is described as follows:

All full-time and regular part-time nonsupervisory employees in the Project-Program Manager, Communications Specialist, Educator Consultant, Statistician, and Engineer job series who work for the King County Department of Community & Human Services in the following divisions: Performance, Measurement & Evaluation; All Home; Adult Services; Housing, Homelessness & Community Development; Director’s Office; Developmental Disabilities & Early Childhood Development; and Children, Youth & Young Adult Services. Excluding supervisors, confidential employees, employees in other bargaining units, and all other employees.

3.                  PERC conducted an investigation conference where the parties disagreed about the eligibility of certain employees to be included in the bargaining unit. PERC determined that the eligibility issues would be resolved following the card check.

4.                  Because the more than 50 percent showing of interest threshold was met, PERC conducted card check proceedings. The employees were given a free choice in the proceedings. The tally of results was provided to the parties and the eligibility issues do not affect the outcome of the card check. No meritorious election objections were filed.

5.                  The existing bargaining unit represented by PROTEC17 shall be modified to include the Business and Financial Officer at the King County Department of Community and Human Services (excluding employees in the Business and Finance Section) for a bargaining unit described as follows:

All full-time and regular part-time nonsupervisory employees in the Project-Program Manager, Communications Specialist, Educator Consultant, Statistician, and Engineer job series who work for the King County Department of Community & Human Services in the following divisions: Performance, Measurement & Evaluation; All Home; Adult Services; Housing, Homelessness & Community Development; Director’s Office; Developmental Disabilities & Early Childhood Development; and Children, Youth & Young Adult Services. Also including all full-time and regular part-time nonsupervisory employees in the Business & Financial Officer job series in the King County Department of Community and Human Services (excluding employees in the Business and Finance Section). Excluding statutory supervisors, confidential employees, employees in other bargaining units, and all other employees.

Conclusions of Law

1.                  The unit described in finding of fact 5 is an appropriate unit within the meaning of RCW 41.56.060.

2.                  Representation proceedings were conducted in accordance with RCW 41.56.095 and chapter 391‑25 WAC.

certification

1.                  King County Business and Financial Officer employees in the bargaining unit described in finding of fact 5 have chosen

PROTEC17

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

2.                  This case is remanded for further proceedings on the eligibility issues described in finding of fact 3.

ISSUED at Olympia, Washington, this  4th  day of February, 2021.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

Michael P. Sellars, Executive Director