WA State Legislative Action (Updated 1/27/12)
SUPPORT: DOC Uniforms: Rep. Maureen Walsh’s (R-Walla Walla) bill, HB 2346, received unusual treatment when the House Public Safety committee members immediately voted in support. The bill would move Department of Commerce uniform production from inmate labor to an outside (and less costly) vendor. Watch the hearing here. Next Step: House floor vote!
SUPPORT: Port Drayage Driver Misclassification: Rep. Mike Sells’ (D-Everett) bill, HB 2395, requires port drayage drivers to be treated as employees. Sen. Kohl-Wells introduced companion bill SB6461 this week. Change to Win, Sage, One America, Washington State Labor Council and port truck drivers testified in support at the House Labor & Workforce hearing. Watch the hearing here. Next Step: Vote in House Labor committee on 1/31 at 10am.
SUPPORT: Labor Representation on Transit Boards: Teamster Local 839’s Norma Nelson provided testimony in the House Transportation Committee in support of HB2553, Rep. Moscoso’s (D-Bothell) bill to clarify the rights of nonvoting labor representatives on Transit Boards. Some labor union representatives, such as Teamster Local 839’s Norma Wier on the Benton-Franklin Community Transit Board and Teamster Local 589’s John Witte on the Kitsap Community Transit Board, are excluded from most executive board sessions and committee meetings. Listen to testimony here (minutes 1:41:05 – 2:00:00) Next step: Vote in House Transportation Committee.
SUPPORT: Public Safety: Rep. Eddy’s (D-Mercer Island) bill, HB2527, authorizes State Patrol to fine trucking equipment owners for chassis and container safety infractions, not drivers. Sen. Frockt introduced companion bill SB 6487. Next step: Hearing in House transportation committee 1/30 at 3:30pm.
SUPPORT: Fish & Wildlife Officer Benefits: HB2418/ SB6134 allows quicker transfer of DFW officers (Teamster LU760 members) PERS 2/3 benefits to LEOFF. Senate Ways & Means hearing went well this week, with LU760 members testifying in support, and SB6314 was voted out of committee on Thursday. Watch the hearing here. Next step: Vote in Senate, House hearing.
OPPOSE: K-12 Health Care benefits: Sen. Hobbs’ (D-Everett) bill, SB 6442, would eliminate health care benefits for part-time K-12 school employees and would increase premiums. Rep. Eddy (Mercer) introduced a companion bill (HB 2724). Jason Powell, Teamster Local 763, submitted testimony in opposition to SB6442 to Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee. Watch the hearing here. Next Step: Working with opposition coalition on alternative, compromise bill.
SUPPORT: Construction Jobs Bill: Sen. Kilmer and Rep. Dunshee proposed a major program to fund capital construction work. “Infrastructure Jobs Bond” may go to the ballot for voter approval. Next Step: Consolidating House and Senate project lists.
SUPPORT: Transportation Revenue: HB 2660/SB 6455 creates a revenue source for major transportation and transit programs by, in part, increasing the passenger vehicle weight fee by $15 and the license fee for large trucks by 15 percent. Teamsters support because of the great benefit to roads, transit and major construction programs. Next Step: House committee vote.
What you can do:
Call your State Legislators on the hotline at 1-800-562-6000.
Not sure who represents your district? Go here.
Check out your legislators’ votes in 2011 on Teamster issues here.