STATE PATROL LIEUTENANTS ASS'N v. Sandberg

— The Washington State Patrol Lieutenants Association brought this declaratory judgment action to establish its statutory right to engage in collective bargaining over wages and wage-related matters. The Washington State Patrol and Annette Sandberg, its chief, opposed the Association’s position, contending that RCW 41.56.030(4) prohibits collective bargaining as to wage-related matters. The trial court granted summary judgment to the Association. We conclude that the statute excludes wage-related topics from mandatory bargaining, but does not prohibit the parties from negotiating over wages…