issue area reports | employment and labor law
SB 5417 prohibiting mandatory employee meetings on political , religious and union topics
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Sen . Karen Keiser , D-Kent
Ostensibly , SB 5417 sought to prevent mandatory employer meetings on religious or political topics , but its main aim was to prevent employer meetings explaining the business perspective on unionization efforts . The bill did not move out of the Senate .
SB 5217 ergonomics
Passed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Sen . Manka Dhingra , D-Redmond
This bill repeals a longstanding law ( set by citizen initiative 20 years ago ) prohibiting the Department of Labor and Industries
( L & I ) from adopting rules related to ergonomics or musculoskeletal disorders . AWB opposed this unnecessary bill . L & I already has the ability to regulate this issue without creating specific rules and regulations that add costs for employers to do business without creating better outcomes for workers . Amendments narrowed the scope of the bill but not enough to alleviate employer concerns . The bill passed the Senate 27-21 and the House 51-46 .
HB 1067 applying prevailing wage to the private sector
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Rep . Dan Bronoske , D-Lakewood
HB 1067 would have extended government reach and interference in day-to-day operations of private-sector businesses by applying prevailing wages in refineries to non-government contracts . This is a slippery slope . If refineries , why not warehouses or other employers ? The bill did not make it out of the House .
HB 1217 wage complaints
Passed / AWB Neutral sponsor : Rep . Lillian Ortiz-Self , D-Mukilteo
AWB initially opposed HB 1217 . The bill , aimed at addressing wage complaints , created a system of guilty unless proved innocent . After amendments AWB still had some concerns but went neutral on the legislation . The bill passed the Senate 33-16 and the House 62-34 .
HB 1762 warehouse safety / quotas
Passed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Rep . Beth Doglio , D-Olympia
HB 1762 allows the Department of Labor & Industries to set staffing quotas for warehouses . Nearly every warehouse in the state would have been affected by the original bill . AWB opposes quotas of these kinds and this level of government regulation of day-to-day business operations . While the scope of the bill was reduced through amendments , legislators missed an opportunity to create truly a transparent solution and only ended up interfering with business operations . The bill passed the Senate 28-21 and the House 56-42 .
SB 5541 supply chain transparency
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Sen . Manka Dhingra , D-Redmond
Sen . Mike Padden , R-Spokane Valley , is ranking member of the Senate Law & Justice Committee .
SB 5541 would have required every seller and manufacturer doing business in Washington and having annual worldwide gross receipts
Bill considered as part of AWB ’ s voting record
Favorable outcome for Washington businesses
Missed Opportunities
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