HB 2986, sponsored by Rep. Geoff Simpson (D-Covington), requires the appointment of nonvoting labor members to public transportation governing bodies. Supported by the Amalgamated Transit Union, this brings the on-the-ground expertise of actual transit agency workers, the folks who see the problems and interact directly with the customers, to the local transit boards.

Unwittingly, its opponents made the case for why HB 2986 is necessary.

Geri Beardsley, the director of the State Transit Association, testified at a hearing that it was "a solution without a problem" and repeatedly referred to front-line transit workers as a "special interest." What’s next, she asked, requiring environmentalists to be represented? A letter from Raymond Mayor Robert Junger was shared that read: "The board operates as a policy-making group dealing with the operation of a transit system. This is not union business."

Clearly surprised and dismayed by the testimony, committee chairman Rep. Simpson said, "I would suggest that the tenor of the letter supports the reason why this bill is absolutely necessary... We’re not talking about special interest groups, we’re talking about people who work for your organization."

His colleagues agreed. It passed the House 66-29 (see House Vote #3), the Senate 28-19 (see Senate Vote #6) and was signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Unfortunately, the employees of our state’s community and technical colleges will not afforded the same opportunity to have a voice on their boards.

Rep. Mike Sells (D-Everett) sponsored HB 2751 requiring labor representation on college district boards. Given this recession’s renewed focus on retraining workers, having a labor representative would certainly enrich these boards and provide some balance for the business people who typically populate these panels.

Again, advocates for the status quo opposed the effort as "unnecessary." HB 2751 passed the House 52-37, but got hung up in the Senate Higher Education Committee, where it never got a vote. But it will be back, and the WSLC will again support it.