A Lewis County benefits coordinator practiced unfair labor practices in contacting members of the Lewis County Corrections Guild to discuss health insurance benefit packages, according to a finding by the state’s Public Employment Relations Commission.

    The Board of Lewis County Commissioners is expected to acknowledge the finding in a notice of compliance that is scheduled to be read into the record during its regular meeting Monday.

    The finding was the result of a complaint filed with the state’s employee regulatory body earlier this year.

    It was one of two claims filed by the guild, which represents many Lewis County Jail employees.

    Examiner Starr Knutson cleared the county of wrongdoing on the second claim, which accused the county of unilaterally changing the guild’s insurance plans. Knutson wrote that the county “had a valid business necessity defense for changing insurance plans when the change in exclusive representative caused the termination of the bargaining members’ medical insurance coverage.”

    The guild was formed this year and replaced a teamsters union.

    Knutson found that the county’s benefits coordinator communicated directly with guild members without the consent of its exclusive representative regarding a mandatory subject of bargaining — health insurance.

    The communication was against state law, according to the finding.

    The coordinator contacted members of the guild through e-mail messages and telephone calls to offer an insurance package the guild’s bargaining representative had not approved, according to the decision.

    In addition to the notice of compliance, the county is also now required to cease and desist dealing directly with guild members concerning mandatory subjects of bargaining. A notice reflecting the finding is also required to be posted throughout the premises for 60 days.

    Human Resources Administrator Archie Smith declined to expand on the commission’s finding.

    “The report pretty much stands for itself,” he said.

    Eric Schwartz: (360) 807-8245