Alvarez v. Inslee

186 F. Supp. 3d 1131, 206 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3218, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61267, 2016 WL 2625935
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Washington
DecidedMay 9, 2016
DocketCASE NO. 16-5111 RJB
StatusPublished

This text of 186 F. Supp. 3d 1131 (Alvarez v. Inslee) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Alvarez v. Inslee, 186 F. Supp. 3d 1131, 206 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3218, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61267, 2016 WL 2625935 (W.D. Wash. 2016).

Opinion

ORDER ON SEIU HEALTHCARE NW TRAINING PARTNERSHIP’S MOTION TO DISMISS PURSUANT TO FED. R. CIV. P. 12(B)(6)

ROBERT J. BRYAN, United States District Judge

. This matter comes before the Court on SEIU Healthcare NW Training Partnership’s (“NW Training Partnership”) Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) (Dkt. 16) and Plaintiffs Motion to Strike (Dkt. 26). The Court has considered the pleadings filed in support of and in opposition to the motions and the file herein.

Plaintiff filed this case asserting that his First Amendment rights against compelled speech are being violated when the State of Washington requires him, as an “individual provider ... of personal or respite care services” (“IP”) to: (1) meet with Defendant Service Employees International Healthcare 775NW (“SEIU”) and listen to “its private, pro union speech as part of IP’s mandatory training,” (2) receive SEIU’s “private pro-union speech” by devoting certain bulletin boards to SEIU’s leaflets, and (3) receive SEIU’s “private pro-union speech” by devoting certain spaces on IP’s mandatory payroll system to SEIU’s messages. Dkt. 1. Plaintiff also makes claims under the Washington State Constitution Art. 8 § 5, which Plaintiff contends “prohibits the state- from giving or loaning its credit to any association,” and-RCW 42.62.160, which Plaintiff maintains “prohibits state officers and employees from using any persons, money or property under the officers’ official control, for the benefit or gain of another beyond a de minimis use.” Id. Plaintiff seeks declaratory and injunctive relief as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. Id.

Defendant NW Training Partnership now moves for dismissal of the claims against it pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12 (b)(6). Dkt. 16. For the reasons stated below, the motion should be granted, and Plaintiff should be given leave to amend, his complaint, if he wishes.

I. FACTS

According to the Complaint, Plaintiff is an IP who is paid by Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (“DSHS”) to provide care for his disabled fiancé. Dkt. 1, at 5. He asserts that “IPs are public employees ‘solely for the purposes of collective bargaining’ and have been organized into a single statewide bargaining unit.” Id. (citing RCW 74.39A.270). SEIU is the “exclusive representative of the IP bargaining unit,” and so engages in collective bargaining with the state (as represented by the governor or governor’s designee). Id., at 6. The state and SEIU are obligated to bargain in good faith. Id. As is relevant to this motion, NW Training Partnership is asserted to be a nonprofit [1134]*1134501(c)(3) formed by SEIU “and participating employers, including the State of Washington, with its place of business located at 635 Andover Park W, Seattle, WA 98188.” Id., at 6. The Complaint asserts that NW Training Partnership provides all IP training, which is a condition of the IP’s employment. Id. at 7.

According to the Complaint, the 2015-2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) between the state and SEIU obligates the state to require that IPs receive SEIU’s “pro-union speech during portions of mandatory events that Plaintiff and all other similarly situated IPs must complete as a condition of employment.” Id. at 6. As instances where the state has compelled him to receive SEIU’s “pro-union” speech (which he maintains is unrelated to client-care training) through the CBA, Plaintiff points to forced meetings with SEIU during paid mandatory basic training, contracting appointments, and continuing education classes. Id., at 7-8. He also points to required exposure to SEIU’s speech on bulletin boards which IPs must “necessari'ly frequent due to work-related business” and on the state mandated online payroll system where SEIU receives space for displaying messages. Id. at 8-9. The Complaint asserts that during all these contacts, SEIU “promotes its organization, solicits funding, solicits membership, solicits donations to political committees, and extols its positions on matters of public concern.” Id. at 9-10. It maintains that Plaintiff “objects to being compelled to listen to and receive SEIU’s speech” and that he cannot avoid it when visiting state offices or using the online system. Id., at 10. According to the Complaint, “neither union membership nor the payment of any dues or fees to SEIU is a condition for Plaintiff, or any IP, to receive reimbursements/pay.” Id., at 10. The Complaint alleges that by paying the IPs to attend the required events where SEIU is speaking, the state is giving its money, property and employees in the aid of SEIU. Id. at 11-12.

The Complaint asserts that the Freedom Foundation, the entity whose lawyers represent Plaintiff here, “requested the State for the same speaking privileges and access to IPs as the state gave SEIU pursuant to the 2015-2017 CBA on January 20, 2015.” Id., at 10. The state did not respond, so the Freedom Foundation construed the lack of response as a denial. Id., at 10-11.

The Complaint asserts that the state is violating “Plaintiff’s and similarly situated IPs’ First Amendment rights” by forcing the pro-union content or viewpoint based speech on them as captive audiences at mandatory meetings, on the bulletin board and online. Id., at 15. It also asserts that the state is violating the Washington State Constitution Art. 8 § 5 and RCW 42.52.160 by expending resources in favor of SEIU and receiving nothing in exchange. Id., at 19-24. Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief that certain provisions of the CBA are invalid and injunctive relief to prohibit enforcement of those terms, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. Id., at 24-25.

PENDING MOTIONS

Defendant NW Training Partnership argues it should be dismissed from this case because Plaintiff has not plead any claims against it. Dkt. 16. Further, it points out that it is not a party to the CBA, and so Plaintiff seeks no relief it can give him. Id.

Plaintiff opposes the motion, arguing that NW Training Partnership is a necessary party under Fed. R. Civ. P. 19. Dkt. 19. He maintains that he cannot get complete relief without the inclusion of NW Training Partnership. Id. He argues that it is NW Training Partnership’s “unique position as the facilitator of the unconstitutional meetings which occur at the trainings it runs” that give it the ability to [1135]*1135defeat any relief ordered in this case. Id. Plaintiff asserts that as a “third-party beneficiary” to the CBA, NW Training Partnership could initiate an action which may create inconsistent obligations for the other parties to this suit. Id.

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186 F. Supp. 3d 1131, 206 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3218, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61267, 2016 WL 2625935, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/alvarez-v-inslee-wawd-2016.