Q: Could the WA/OR state sick leave laws change where they have a CBA carve out like CA? If so, and we do not have these more generous provisions (e.g. bereavement, school closure, non-punitive system, etc.) in a ratified contract, would we lose the ability to negotiate them in?
If the state laws in WA and OR changed to have a carveout, then the Company would not be required to apply the laws to our Flight Attendants. If we had not yet ratified a TA with these provisions, we would need to negotiate them into a subsequent agreement. It is likely we would have much less leverage to negotiate similar provisions, as the Company would not feel an obligation to provide what the state does not require for our workgroup.
It is to our benefit to ensure state provisions are codified into our contract to ensure we retain these protections if they subsequently change in the state laws or application of the law.