Opinion ID: 2638964
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Renshaw

Text: ¶ 6 On September 27, 2001, Daniel A. Renshaw was injured while working as a full time union apprentice laborer for J.R. Hayes & Sons, Inc., under a CBA between the Washington Northern Idaho District Counsel of Laborers and the Associated General Contractors. ¶ 7 Under the CBA, Renshaw's wage rate was $16.74 per hour. The CBA also required Renshaw's employer to make after-tax deductions from his net pay and remit them to the following: $1.00 per hour worked to a credit union savings account, $.55 per hour worked to the union for union dues, and $.04 per hour worked to the Northwest Fair Contracting Industry Improvement Committee (NWFCA). For every hour Renshaw worked, Schedule B of the CBA required his employer to contribute $3.10 to the health and security trust fund, $2.40 to the pension trust fund, $.25 to the training trust fund, and $.05 to the LECET account (for management-labor promotion). [2] The CBA categorized the health and security contributions and the pension, apprenticeship/training and LECET payments as fringe benefits. Certified Appeal Board Record (CABR Renshaw) ex. 1, at 25; ex. 2. ¶ 8 Renshaw was granted benefits but disagreed with the Department's calculation of his monthly wage for purposes of computing his time-loss compensation and appealed. The IAJ found that Renshaw's wage included $18.33/hour ($16.74 in take home pay, $1 for vacation, $.04 for NWFCA and $.55 for union dues). CABR (Renshaw) at 57. The IAJ also concluded that monthly payments into the union trust funds for health, dental, and vision insurance were part of Renshaw's wage pursuant to RCW 51.08.178 because those benefits were critical to Renshaw's health and survival. However, the IAJ excluded payments for pension, sick pay, life insurance, training, and LECET pursuant to this court's ruling in Cockle, 142 Wash.2d 801, 16 P.3d 583. ¶ 9 Renshaw petitioned for review to the Board, which adopted the IAJ's order. He then appealed to the superior court, which ruled for the Department. Renshaw then filed an appeal in the Court of Appeals and this case was consolidated with four others.