Notes should be public immediately

The Olympian • Published July 30, 2007

A King County judge has ruled that notes made by the governor’s negotiators during union talks are public record.

It’s a good ruling, as far as it goes.

The notes taken by negotiators should be available to the public immediately after the two sides have come to an agreement, not after the state Legislature has ratified the collective bargaining agreement.

Some public-employee unions fought a request for the notes by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, an Olympia think tank and frequent foe of organized labor. The unions, including the Washington Public Employees Association, argued that releasing such notes would undermine their ability to candidly fight for pay raises and other benefits by making their strategies public.

Superior Court Judge Christopher Washington, in a letter to the parties involved, said the notes should be public once the Legislature agrees to pay for them.

The judge is half right.

Yes, the records should be public. But timing is key. The public notes are of little consequence AFTER lawmakers have ratified the agreement.

Let’s hope this case makes it to the state Supreme Court and that justices there see the wisdom of opening the notes BEFORE contract ratification.