City of Liberty Lake, Decision 13624 (PECB, 2023)

STATE OF WASHINGTON

BEFORE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

Mark Holthaus, Representative, for the Liberty Lake Police Guild.

Damon Simmons, Chief of Police, for the City of Liberty Lake.

Larry Kroetch, Secretary-Treasurer, for Teamsters Local 690.

Findings of Fact

1.                  The Liberty Lake Police Guild filed a representation petition concerning employees of the City of Liberty Lake. The Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) determined the petition was timely filed and accompanied by a sufficient showing of interest.

2.                  Teamsters Local 690 is the incumbent labor organization that represented the petitioned‑for employees and was granted status as intervenor in these proceedings.

3.                  The bargaining unit, last certified in City of Liberty Lake, Decision 8455 (PECB, 2004), is described as follows:

All full-time and regular part-time uniformed officers of the City of Liberty Lake, excluding the Chief of Police, confidential employees, and all other employees.

4.                  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 election.

5.                  PERC conducted election proceedings. The employees were given 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 election. No meritorious election objections were filed.

Conclusions of Law

1.                  The unit described in finding of fact 3 is an appropriate unit within the meaning of RCW 41.56.060.

2.                  Representation proceedings were conducted in accordance with RCW 41.56.070 and chapter 391‑25 WAC.

certification

1.                  City of Liberty Lake employees in the bargaining unit described in finding of fact 2 have chosen

liberty lake police guild

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 4.

ISSUED at Olympia, Washington, this  26th  day of January, 2023.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

Michael P. Sellars, Executive Director