Opinion ID: 2612288
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: unfair labor practice charge

Text: RCW 41.59.140(1)(b) provides that it shall be an unfair labor practice To dominate or interfere with the formation or administration of any employee organization or contribute financial or other support to it ... The Auditor contends that the school districts in agreeing to allow release time for employees to use at the behest of the education associations contributed support to the employee organizations and thus violated the statute. (There is no contention of any dominance or interference.) [6, 7] We agree with the trial court's analysis that the general meaning of contribute is to give or grant something without obligation to do so. Such is not the case before us as the agreements were reached by arm's length bargaining. As stated by the trial court: If it were concluded otherwise, then every benefit or right received by an employee organization through a collective bargaining agreement with an employer, regardless of the consideration passing from the organization to the employer and regardless of how strenuously bargained for, would be a contribution by the employer to the organization, and, if the effect thereof were to benefit or support the organization, it would be illegal. Contribute is not defined in the statute, therefore it should be given its ordinary meaning. Garrison v. Washington State Nursing Bd., 87 Wn.2d 195, 196, 550 P.2d 7 (1976). In ascertaining the common meaning of statutory terms we frequently resort to dictionaries. See, e.g., Garrison; Intermediate Sch. Dist. 105 v. Yakima Cy., 81 Wn.2d 443, 445, 503 P.2d 104 (1972); Crown Zellerbach Corp. v. State, 53 Wn.2d 813, 815, 328 P.2d 884 (1958). Webster's Third New International Dictionary (1976), in part, defines contribute as follows: to give or grant in common with others or  give (money or other aid) for a specified object. (Italics ours.) Accord, Black's Law Dictionary 297 (5th rev. ed. 1979). Accordingly, there is a gift concept inherent in the ordinary meaning of contribution. We have held that adequate consideration may preclude the finding of a gift and if intent to give a gift is lacking, the elements of a gift are not present. Scott Paper Co. v. Anacortes, 90 Wn.2d 19, 32-33, 578 P.2d 1292 (1978), and cases cited therein. No intent to give a gift is apparent. Release time was negotiated for and the Auditor has never asserted that consideration for said agreements did not flow to the school districts. Consequently, the school districts' agreeing to afford employees release time to engage in certain association business, while of undoubted benefit to the organization and employees, is not a contribution and thus is not proscribed by RCW 41.59.140(1)(b). [2]