Cowlitz County, Decision 13457 (PECB, 2022)

STATE OF WASHINGTON

BEFORE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

David W. Ballew, Attorney at Law, Reid, McCarthy, Ballew & Leahy, L.L.P., for Teamsters Local 58.

Ursula A. Kienbaum, Attorney at Law, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., for Cowlitz County.

Findings of Fact

1.                  Teamsters Local 58 filed a representation petition concerning employees of Cowlitz County. 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 bargaining unit is described as follows:

All full-time and regular part-time nonsupervisory Public Defenders employed by Cowlitz County Office of Public Defense, excluding confidential employees, supervisory employees, and all other employees.

3.                  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. No meritorious election objections were filed.

Conclusions of Law

1.                  The unit described in finding of fact 2 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

Cowlitz County employees in the bargaining unit described in finding of fact 2 have chosen

Teamsters Local 58

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

ISSUED at Olympia, Washington, this  4th  day of January, 2022.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

Michael P. Sellars, Executive Director