Collective Bargaining
What Is It?
Police unions have long used collective bargaining of their contracts to shield officers from accountability for serious misconduct against civilians. Without meaningful oversight, local jurisdictions and police departments cannot discipline or remove problematic officers and are left powerless to reform a broken system. Public trust in law enforcement is eroded as officers evade discipline for actions that are a violation of civilian civil liberties, assault or even death.
Why Care?
This bill removes police accountability from collective bargaining, eliminates private arbitration of disciplinary appeals, and requires public participation in the development and establishment of accountability systems and processes for serious police misconduct.
Unlike most public employees, law enforcement officers, in the course of duty, have the authority to interfere with the life and liberty of civilians as well as for the use of deadly force. The systems of accountability that address serious officer misconduct have mistakenly been included in collective bargaining along with pay, benefits, and working conditions.
In the Legislature
Enhancing public trust and confidence in law enforcement and strengthening law enforcement accountability for general authority Washington peace officers, excluding department of fish and wildlife officers.
Upcoming Events
Click below to find events that you care about.
Take Action
Contact Your Legislators
Contact your legislators to share your support for SB 5134. You can do so by clicking on the button below, then pressing on the “Comment on this bill” button.
This is especially impactful if your legislators are members of the Senate Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs Committee. You can find your legislators here and the members of the Senate Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs Committee are here.
Give Public Testimony
Support this bill by providing testimony, written or live.
When SB 5134 is being heard in committee, you may submit written testimony, or testify live by clicking on the “Sign In for Testimony” button below. After you are redirected, you will want to:
Click on the Senate button
Use the dropdown menus on the next page to select the committee and meeting date
Select the type of testimony you wish to submit and follow the instructions
Spread the Word
Consider sharing this resource with your network so that your friends, family, and colleagues who are interested can also get involved!
Participate in Virtual Lobby Days
Make your and other voices heard by joining this session’s “virtual” lobby days.
Keep Learning.
How Cities Lost Control of Police Discipline
(New York Times)
Op-Ed: Why do bad police stay on the streets? Officers are shielded from meaningful discipline
(Los Angeles Times)
How Police Unions Fight Reform
(The New Yorker)
It is important to understand that this bill does not undermine the ability of unions to exercise their right of collective bargaining. ACLU believes strongly in the right of collective bargaining. However, it is not the right of officers to infringe upon the civil liberties of citizens.