CALL FOR ELECTION
Why WAAFHA Is Collecting Signatures for an Election
Adult family home providers deserve a voice in choosing who represents them at the bargaining table. The last election for a bargaining representative occurred in January of 2008 between the Residential Care Council and the Washington Federation of State Employees. It has been nearly twenty years and the number of providers have quadrupled since 2008.
The present bargaining representative – the AFH COUNCIL was never elected under its own name.
WAAFHA is collecting signed authorization cards to seek an election in which eligible Washington providers can make that choice.
The Adult Family Home Council is currently the exclusive bargaining representative for the statewide adult family home provider bargaining unit. That representative bargains with the Governor over matters that affect providers, including reimbursement and other economic issues.
WAAFHA believes providers should have the opportunity to decide whether they want to continue with their current representative or choose a different one.
Washington law provides for a representative chosen through an election.
Why sign an authorization card?
A signed card shows support for WAAFHA’s petition to change the bargaining representative and seek an election. Under PERC’s rules, a petition to change an existing representative generally needs signed cards from at least 30% of the proposed bargaining unit.
Signing a card is not a vote, and it does not by itself make WAAFHA the bargaining representative. If the petition qualifies and PERC directs an election, eligible providers will have the opportunity to vote.
Why does this matter?
The cost of providing safe, quality care continues to affect adult family homes, their caregivers, and the residents who depend on them. Providers have questions about reimbursement, timely payment, training, and the economic pressures of operating a home.
WAAFHA wants providers to have a direct say in which organization brings those priorities to the bargaining table.
An election lets providers assess the choices and decide for themselves. WAAFHA will explain its priorities and ask providers to earnestly consider its case for representation.
What happens next?
WAAFHA will collect cards from eligible providers and, if it gathers the required support, submit a petition to the Washington Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) during the applicable filing period. PERC determines whether the petition meets its requirements and whether an election will be held. The timing of a petition can depend on the expiration date of the current collective bargaining agreement. Read PERC’s filing rule.
Make your voice heard
If you support giving providers the opportunity to choose their bargaining representative, download the authorization card, read it carefully, and follow its submission instructions. You can also share this page with other Washington adult family home providers.
The choice of who represents providers belongs to providers.
For questions, contact WAAFHA through WAAFHA.org.