Mediation Collective Bargaining Agreements

In mediation, PERC staff members serve as neutrals to help parties in conflict define issues, explore solutions, and reach mutual agreement. Mediation is voluntary, and the parties are in control of any resulting agreements.

requests

While the number of mediation requests overall was comparable to the number received in 2021, the types of requests received differed in 2022.

The number of requests to mediate collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) rebounded from the pandemic low in 2020. Requests for mediations of grievances dropped from the two-year high in 2020 and 2021. The volume of requests to mediate unfair labor practice (ULP) complaints was the lowest it has been in eight years.

Agreements were reached in 86% of mediations involving CBAs, on par with the previous 10 years’ average of 88%.

Agreements Reached

The agreement rate for mediations of both grievances and unfair labor practice complaints dropped in 2022. The agreement rate for grievance mediations dropped precipitously from 59% in 2021 to 34% in 2022. Driving this were the number of grievance mediations related to employer COVID and COVID vaccine policies and procedure.

Only two of the 39 COVID‑related grievance mediation requests filed in 2021 and 2022 resulted in agreement, and one mediation opened in late 2022 was still pending at the time of this report.

There were five strikes in 2022. Four of the strikes involved teachers in the Eatonville, Kent, Ridgefield, and Seattle School Districts and ranged from 7 to 13 days. The fifth strike involved librarians at the University of Washington who engaged in a one-day walkout in late 2022. All of these disputes eventually resolved with the parties reaching agreement.