Bulletin: Labor relations for DSHS contractors

WSHA released a bulletin on new contracting requirements for hospitals and health systems that are contractors of Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). DSHS contractors that provide “adult care, mental health, addiction, disability support, or youth services” are now required to provide an assurance that such services will not be disrupted or delayed by economic or industrial actions, under recent 2020 legislation (SB 6096). The new assurance requirement applies to new contracts and renewals of existing contracts as of June 11, 2020. The assurance may be satisfied through the execution of an agreement between the contractor and any labor organization that represents or seeks to represent employees who provide these services. Hospitals and health systems who contract with DSHS are encouraged to review the bulletin and consult with labor relations counsel to evaluate pending, new or existing DSHS contracts for compliance with the new law.