Template revised September 22, 2016.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
6a
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
March 26, 2019
DATE: March 19, 2019
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: David Freiboth, Senior Director of Labor Relations
Milton Ellis, Labor Relations Manager
SUBJECT: New collective bargaining agreement between the Port of Seattle and the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 117, representing Police/Fire
Communication Specialists.
Total Port Cost Increase for the Duration of the Agreement: $285,617
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a new collective
bargaining agreement between the Port of Seattle and the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, Local 117, representing Police/Fire Communication Specialists at the Port of Seattle
covering the period from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Good faith bargaining between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 117,
representing Police/Fire Communication Specialists and the Port of Seattle resulted in a fair
collective bargaining agreement (CBA) consistent with Port’s priorities.
There are currently sixteen (16) Police/Fire Communication Specialists employed at the Port of
Seattle who are assigned to the 911 emergency call center at the Port of Seattle Police
Department. Police/Fire Communication Specialists respond to and dispatch emergency calls in
the 911 emergency call center of the Port Police Department.
This agreement is for three years covering the period from January 1, 2018, through December
31, 2020. The estimated total additional cost for wages and benefit increases is $285,035. The
estimated additional cost per year of the contract is: year one, $39,709; year two, $92,838, and
year three 152,488.
The cost is based upon a cost of living increase of 3.0% in wages in year one of the agreement; a
cost of living increase of 3.1% in year two of the agreement; and an estimated cost of living
increase of 2.5%, plus an additional 1.0% in year three of the agreement. The cost also consists
of a health insurance increase of 3.79% in year two of the agreement and an estimated 3.79%
increase in health insurance in year three of the agreement.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 6a Page 2 of 4
Meeting Date: March 26, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
Other changes consist of deleting language in the Union Security Clause regarding mandatory
Union membership in compliance with Federal law; increase employee contribution for medical
insurance; increase in the Port contribution of the Pacific Coast Supplemental Pension of five
cents ($0.05¢) per compensated hour; the addition of an intermediate vacation accrual level for
employees with 16 years of service; modification of the sick leave and the Family Medical Leave
provision to comply with state law; and the Union participation in the employee orientation
program in accordance with state law.
JUSTIFICATION
RCW Chapter 41.56 requires the Port of Seattle to collectively bargaining wages, hours and
conditions of employment with the exclusive bargaining representative designated by the
employees.
DETAILS
Term of the Agreement
Retroactive to January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Wages
Classification
Current
Rate
Effective
1/1/18 Base
Hourly Rate
(+3.0%
COLA)
Effective
1/1/19 Base
Hourly Rate
(+3.1% COLA)
Communication
Specialists
$25.31
$27.81
$28.67
Wage
Employees were provided with a cost of living increase for each year of the three year
agreement based on the Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue CPI-U (All Urban Consumers) October to
October Index which represented 3.0% for October 2017-October 2018 (effective January 1,
2018); 3.1% for October 2018-October2019 (effective January 1, 2019); and an estimated 2.5%
COLA for October 2019-October 2020 (effective January 1, 2020). Employees also will receive
an additional one percent (1.0%) above COLA in year three of the agreement.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 6a Page 3 of 4
Meeting Date: March 26, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
Health and Welfare
Members of the bargaining group are currently enrolled in Teamsters Medical Plan A where
they are contributing seventy-five dollars ($75) per month toward the cost of their medical
insurance. The contract provides for an increase in the amount of premium share paid by
employees of twenty-five dollars ($25) in year two of the agreement and an additional twenty-
five dollars ($25) in year three of the agreement. Total employee medical contribution will
therefore consist of a total of one-hundred dollars ($100) per month in year two of the
agreement and one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) a month in year three of the
agreement.
Pension
Members of the bargaining group are enrolled in the Pacific Coast Supplemental Pension Plan
where the Port currently contributed an amount of $1.35 per compensated hour. This amount
will increase by five-cents ($0.05¢) in year three of the agreement for a total Port contribution
of one dollar and forty cents ($1.40) per compensated hour.
New Employee Orientation
The Union will now have up to thirty (30) minutes to meet with new employees during the new
employee orientation in accordance with state law.
Other Changes
An additional intermediate vacation accrual level of 168 hours was added for employees
with 16 years of service to align with other represented groups in the Port Police
Department.
The sick leave provision was modified to conform to the new Washington State sick
leave law.
The Family Medical Leave provision was modified to conform with the Washington Paid
Family and Medical Leave Act.
The Union Security Provision language regarding mandatory union membership was
deleted to comply with Federal law.
Cost Impact $
Year 1
Year 2
Year
Pay
$35,194
$37,274
$43,389
Benefits
$ 4,515
$15,856
$ 16,261
Total New Money
$39,709
$53,129
$59,649
Total Cumulative
Cost
$39,709
$92,838
$152,488
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 6a Page 4 of 4
Meeting Date: March 26, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
The estimated total additional cost to the Port of Seattle for the duration of the contract is
$285,035.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
1. Collective Bargaining Agreement
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
None