Committee hears narrowing amendment for bill to extend collective bargaining rights to student employees

Staff told the House Appropriations Committee that House Bill 1570 would extend collective-bargaining coverage to student employees at state higher-education institutions. David Pringle summarized the bill, noting it defines student employees as those enrolled in academic programs (including across academic breaks) and lists exclusions from bargaining such as academic standards, tuition and fees, and the academic calendar.

A striking amendment offered by Representative Lacanoff narrows the bill to cover nonacademic student employees at Western Washington University only, listing 15 job classifications such as resident advisors and customer-service representatives. Staff estimated that narrowing the bill would reduce the fiscal impact from an earlier estimate of about $1.5 million per biennium to roughly $200,000 per biennium.

Student and labor witnesses spoke in support. Emily Myers of UAW Region 6 said the narrowed scope "drastically reduces the impact of the fiscal note" and noted organizing momentum at Western; Jace Cabraline, a Western student and stage technician, described workplace-safety risks tied to inconsistent procedures and said collective bargaining would help students negotiate training and safeguards. Sienna Girard (Washington Student Association) and Nathan Tippman (Evergreen State College student) also urged support for the striking amendment.

The committee concluded public testimony on HB 1570 and moved to the next item; no executive action was taken during the hearing.