Labor panel rules against Community Colleges of Spokane
Source: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (WA), Friday, July 7, 2006 ยท Last updated 12:00 p.m. PT
SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Community Colleges of Spokane engaged in unfair labor practices by hiring private workers for some jobs and making it difficult for union members to get information needed for negotiations, a state labor panel has found.
On June 30, the Public Employment Relations Commission ordered the colleges to stop subcontracting out several jobs and to stop "obstructing" union requests for information. "I think it's a strong statement that the state at all levels needs to negotiate about contracting out" labor, said Tim Welch, director of public affairs for the Washington Federation of State Employees.