Application of chapter to employees of institutions of higher education — Exceptions — Limitations on bargaining.

RCW 41.56.401
in effect
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(1) In addition to the entities listed in *RCW 41.56.101 , this chapter applies to employees of institutions of higher education who are exempted from civil service pursuant to RCW 41.06.070 (2), with the following exceptions: (a) Executive employees, including all members of the governing board of each institution of higher education and related boards; all presidents and vice presidents; deans, directors, and chairs; and executive heads of major administrative or academic divisions; (b) Managers who perform any of the following functions: (i) Formulate, develop, or establish institutional policy, or direct the work of an administrative unit; (ii) Manage, administer, and control a program, including its physical, financial, or personnel resources; (iii) Have substantial responsibility for human resources administration, legislative relations, public information, internal audits and investigations, or the preparation and administration of budgets; (iv) Functionally is above the first level of supervision and exercises authority that is not merely routine or clerical in nature and requires the consistent use of independent judgment; (c) Employees who, in the regular course of their duties, act as a principal assistant, administrative assistant, or personal assistant to employees as defined by (a) of this subsection; (d) Confidential employees; (e) Employees who assist assistant attorneys general who advise and represent managers or confidential employees in personnel or labor relations matters, or who advise or represent the state in tort actions. (2) Employees subject to this section shall not be included in any unit of employees certified under *RCW 41.56.403 , 41.56.411 , or 41.56.423 , chapter 41.76 RCW, or chapter 41.80 RCW. Employees whose eligibility for collective bargaining is covered by chapter 28B.52 , 41.76, or 41.80 RCW are exempt from the provisions of this chapter. (3) Institutions of higher education and the exclusive bargaining representatives shall not agree to any proposal that would prevent the implementation of approved affirmative action plans or that would be inconsistent with the comparable worth agreement that provided the basis for the salary changes implemented beginning with the 1983-1985 biennium to achieve comparable worth. (4) Institutions of higher education and the exclusive bargaining representative shall not bargain over rights of management that, in addition to all powers, duties, and rights established by constitutional provision or statute, shall include but not be limited to the following: (a) The functions and programs of the institution, the use of technology, and the structure of the organization; (b) The institution's budget and the size of its workforce, including determining the financial basis for layoffs; (c) The right to direct and supervise employees; (d) The right to take whatever actions are deemed necessary to carry out the mission of the state and the institutions of higher education during emergencies; (e) Retirement plans and retirement benefits; or (f) Health care benefits or other employee insurance benefits, except as provided in RCW 41.80.020 . (1) In addition to the entities listed in *RCW 41.56.101 , this chapter applies to employees of institutions of higher education who are exempted from civil service pursuant to RCW 41.06.070 (2), with the following exceptions: (a) Executive employees, including all members of the governing board of each institution of higher education and related boards; all presidents and vice presidents; deans, directors, and chairs; and executive heads of major administrative or academic divisions; (b) Managers who perform any of the following functions: (i) Formulate, develop, or establish institutional policy, or direct the work of an administrative unit; (ii) Manage, administer, and control a program, including its physical, financial, or personnel resources; (iii) Have substantial responsibility for human resources administration, legislative relations, public information, internal audits and investigations, or the preparation and administration of budgets; (iv) Functionally is above the first level of supervision and exercises authority that is not merely routine or clerical in nature and requires the consistent use of independent judgment; (c) Employees who, in the regular course of their duties, act as a principal assistant, administrative assistant, or personal assistant to employees as defined by (a) of this subsection; (d) Confidential employees; (e) Employees who assist assistant attorneys general who advise and represent managers or confidential employees in personnel or labor relations matters, or who advise or represent the state in tort actions. (2) Employees subject to this section shall not be included in any unit of employees certified under *RCW 41.56.403 , 41.56.411 , or 41.56.423 , chapter 41.76 RCW, or chapter 41.80 RCW. Employees whose eligibility for collective bargaining is covered by chapter 28B.52 , 41.76, or 41.80 RCW are exempt from the provisions of this chapter. (3) Institutions of higher education and the exclusive bargaining representatives shall not agree to any proposal that would prevent the implementation of approved affirmative action plans or that would be inconsistent with the comparable worth agreement that provided the basis for the salary changes implemented beginning with the 1983-1985 biennium to achieve comparable worth. (4) Institutions of higher education and the exclusive bargaining representative shall not bargain over rights of management that, in addition to all powers, duties, and rights established by constitutional provision or statute, shall include but not be limited to the following: (a) The functions and programs of the institution, the use of technology, and the structure of the organization; (b) The institution's budget and the size of its workforce, including determining the financial basis for layoffs; (c) The right to direct and supervise employees; (d) The right to take whatever actions are deemed necessary to carry out the mission of the state and the institutions of higher education during emergencies; (e) Retirement plans and retirement benefits; or (f) Health care benefits or other employee insurance benefits, except as provided in RCW 41.80.020 .
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=41.56&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026

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