OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state House has approved a measure that will allow legislative staff to begin collective bargaining in 2024. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. A previous version of the bill died earlier this session, but the issue was revived after more than 100 staffers called in sick to protest. While the new measure doesn’t go as far as the original proposal, it starts the process for allowing staffers to unionize. Under the proposal, staffers can begin bargaining on May 1, 2024. Agreements would take effect on July 1, 2025. The proposal also creates an Office of State Legislative Labor Relations, which would be charged with conducting collective bargaining negotiations for the Legislature.
House passes bill allowing unionization for staff in 2024
