Lincoln County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution today to require transparency for all the county's collective bargaining talks. I believe this is the first contract transparency resolution of its kind in the state. According to the resolution: 

"From this day forward, Lincoln County shall conduct all collective bargaining contract negotiations in a manner that is open to the public; AND Lincoln County shall provide public notice of all collective bargaining negotiations in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30.060 - 42.30.080) . . ."

The resolution highlights several reasons for embracing collective bargaining transparency. Among them:

• A transparent government is the top priority for Lincoln County; 
   
• Collective Bargaining Agreements are among the most expensive contracts negotiated by Lincoln County;
   
• Both taxpayers and employees deserve to know how they are being represented during collective bargaining negotiations; and
   
• The impression of secret deal-making will be eliminated by making collective bargaining negotiations open to the public.

The resolution also makes clear that having transparent collective bargaining talks does not mean either side will be forced to disclose their strategy or allow the public to interrupt the open talks: 

• Public observance of collective bargaining contract negotiations will not preclude bargaining representatives of both sides from meeting separately and privately to discuss negotiating tactics, goals, and methods; and
   
•  Opening collective bargaining negotiations to the public does not mean that the public will participate in the negotiations.

This is a fantastic open government reform and one that all Washington counties and cities should embrace. Perhaps the City of Seattle will be the next one to open the doors as recommended by the Seattle Community Police Commission. The state should as well and finally pull back the shroud of secrecy surrounding the ongoing talks between state employees and the Governor. One way to do this would be to consider the recent Senate proposal to make all state and local collective bargaining talks subject to transparency. 

Here is the full statement from the Lincoln County Commissioners on the historic transparency resolution: 

"The public, who by electing the members of the Board of Lincoln County Commissioners, have entrusted us to wisely and transparently spend their money to provide them essential services. 

Lincoln County has been facing difficult financial times and it is becoming increasingly difficult to provide just the basic level of service. It is incumbent upon us now, more than ever, to make sure that the taxpayers as well as employees know how they are being represented during collective bargaining negotiations, which are among the most expensive contracts negotiated by the county.

There is a provision in the Open Public Meetings Act that allows for collective bargaining negotiations to be conducted in a manner that is closed to the public. That provision does not mandate secrecy, it only provides the option.  We believe that as elected officials, we should not get to decide what the public should or should not know about how their tax money is spent. The Board of Lincoln County Commissioners has agreed, by adopting Resolution 16-21, that union contract negotiations will be conducted in open public meetings. This Resolution does not preclude either side from meeting separately and privately to discuss negotiating tactics.

We are appealing to the public (Proposition #1, 3/10’s of 1% Sales Tax increase for Public Safety) and asking them to open their wallets and give us more of their hard earned money because the costs of providing those essential services grow at a faster rate than the revenues, creating a structural gap. By asking the public for more money, it is imperative that this board to make every attempt to be transparent, as to maintain the highest level of trust with the people of Lincoln County."

Additional Information
Lincoln County collective bargaining transparency resolution 
State employee unions rally for [redacted] pay raises
Seattle Community Police Commission renews calls for contract transparency
SB 5329 to require that public employee collective bargaining sessions be open meetings