King County, Decision 13685 (PECB, 2023)

STATE OF WASHINGTON

BEFORE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

Jessica Olivas, Organizer, for PROTEC17.

Nancy Corado, Labor Relations Negotiator, for King County.

Findings of Fact

1.                  PROTEC17 filed a representation petition concerning the Communications Specialist at King 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 existing bargaining unit, last certified in King County, Decision 13464 (PECB, 2022), represented by PROTEC17 is described as follows:

All full-time and regular part-time nonsupervisory professional and technical employees working for King County in the following job classes: Administrative Staff Assistant; Administrator I, II, Ill, and IV; Bus Assembly Inspector; Business Analyst; Business Analyst – Senior; Business and Finance Officer I, II, III, and IV; Buyer - Lead Senior; Communications Specialist I, II, III, and IV; Customer Services Coordinator; Customer Services Coordinator – Lead; Data Administrator; Database Specialist – Senior; Educator Consultant I and II; Engineer I, II, III, and IV; Environmental Scientist I, II, III, and IV; Functional Analyst I, II, III, and IV; GIS Specialist – Journey; GIS Specialist – Senior; IT Project Manager I and II; IT Systems Specialist – Master; Maintenance Planner Scheduler; Marketing and Sales Specialist I, II, and III; Occupational Education and Training Instructor; Occupational Education and Training Coordinator; Occupational Education and Training Program Administrator; Occupational Education and Training Program Administrator – Senior; Power Distribution Technical Assistant; Project/Program Manager I, II, III, and IV; Rail SCADA Systems Specialist; Rail SCADA Systems Specialist – Senior; Rideshare Services Representative; Safety and Health Administrator I, II, III, and IV; Special Projects Manager I and III; Transit Maintenance Analyst; Transit Vehicle Procurement Administrator; Transportation Compliance Administrator; Transportation Planner I, II, III, and IV; Van Pool Risk Specialist; and Website Developer – Senior. Excluding statutory 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 Communications Specialists for a bargaining unit described as follows:

All full-time and regular part-time nonsupervisory professional and technical employees working for King County in the following job classes: Administrative Staff Assistant; Administrator I, II, Ill, and IV; Bus Assembly Inspector; Business Analyst; Business Analyst – Senior; Business and Finance Officer I, II, III, and IV; Buyer - Lead Senior; Communications Specialist I, II, III, and IV; Customer Services Coordinator; Customer Services Coordinator – Lead; Data Administrator; Database Specialist – Senior; Educator Consultant I and II; Engineer I, II, III, and IV; Environmental Scientist I, II, III, and IV; Functional Analyst I, II, III, and IV; GIS Specialist – Journey; GIS Specialist – Senior; IT Project Manager I and II; IT Systems Specialist – Master; Maintenance Planner Scheduler; Marketing and Sales Specialist I, II, and III; Occupational Education and Training Instructor; Occupational Education and Training Coordinator; Occupational Education and Training Program Administrator; Occupational Education and Training Program Administrator – Senior; Power Distribution Technical Assistant;  Project/Program Manager I, II, III, and IV; Rail SCADA Systems Specialist; Rail SCADA Systems Specialist – Senior; Rideshare Services Representative; Safety and Health Administrator I, II, III, and IV; Special Projects Manager I and III; Transit Maintenance Analyst; Transit Vehicle Procurement Administrator; Transportation Compliance Administrator; Transportation Planner I, II, III, and IV; Van Pool Risk Specialist; and Website Developer – Senior. 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 Communications Specialist 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  7th  day of July, 2023.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

Michael P. Sellars, Executive Director