COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8h
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
May 23, 2023
DATE: May 17, 2023
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Mikel O’Brien, 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 763, Teamsters, Representing
Police Commanders
Total Port Cost Increase for the Duration of the Agreement: $ 436,479
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 763, representing Police Commanders at the Police Department for the Port of
Seattle covering the period from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2024.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Good faith bargaining between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 763,
representing Police Commanders and the Port of Seattle resulted in a fair collective bargaining
agreement consistent with the Port’s priorities.
There are currently five (5) Police Commanders employed at the Port of Seattle who are assigned
to the Port of Seattle Police Department. Police Commanders are part of the Port of Seattle Police
Department command staff and supervise the day-to-day activities of Port of Seattle Police
Sergeants and Police Officers.
This agreement is for three years covering the period from January 1, 2022, through
December 31, 2024. The estimated total additional cost for wages and benefit increases is
$436,479. The estimated cumulative cost per year of the contract is: year one, $80,189, year two
$151,404, and year three, $204,886. The cost is based upon a nine percent (9.0%) wage increase
in year one of the agreement; a seven percent (7.0%) wage increase in year two of the
agreement; and a Cost-of-Living increase, plus an additional two percent (2.0%) increase in
wages, in year three of the agreement.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8h Page 2 of 4
Meeting Date: May 23, 2023
The cost also consists of a 1.8% increase in health insurance in year one, 4.7% increase in year
two of the agreement and an estimated 4.0% increase in health insurance in year three of the
agreement.
Other changes consist of a modification of the jury compensation procedure where employees
will no longer have to remit their jury compensation paid by the Court to the Port payroll
department; the addition of two personal days in year two of the agreement; increase in the
Damage Reimbursement provision for uniforms from $300 to $400 for each incident; Port
compliance with the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave, where the Port pays the
employee portion of the premium.
Changes were also made to reflect a procedure and process for the implementation of Body
Worn cameras no later than June 1, 2023.
Other changes include employees paying an additional $25 per month in employee premium
share for a total of $150 per month effective year three of the agreement. The Port increased its
contribution of the Pacific Coast Benefits Trust supplemental pension from $1.35 per hour
compensated to $1.40 per hour compensated for members in the bargaining unit.
Terms of the Port’s Vaccine mandate policy were included in this agreement as a Memorandum
of Understanding. Members of the bargaining group who complied with the Port Vaccine policy
and provided verification as of November 15, 2021, will receive an additional personal day in the
third year of the agreement.
The grievance procedure was modified to reflect the procedure provided in RCW 41.58.070 for
Law Enforcement terminations and/or suspensions that are appealed to arbitration and the
process involving the selection of arbitrators.
JUSTIFICATION
RCW Chapter 41.56 requires the Port of Seattle to collectively bargain wages, hours, and
conditions of employment with the exclusive bargaining representative designated by the
employees.
DETAILS
Term of the Agreement
Retroactive to January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2024.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8h Page 3 of 4
Meeting Date: May 23, 2023
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Wages
Classification
Current
Rate
Effective
1/1/22 Base
Hourly Rate
(+9.0%)
1/1/23 Base
Hourly Rate
(7.0%)
Effective
1/1/24 Base
Hourly Rate
(Estimated
3% COLA +
2.0%)
Police
Commander
$74.98/hour
$81.73/hour
$91.82
(Estimate)
Employees were provided with a nine percent (9.0%) increase in year one of the agreement; a
seven percent (7.0%) increase in year two of the agreement; and a cost-of-living increase in year
three of the agreement based on the Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue CPI-U (All Urban Consumers)
October to October Index, plus an additional two-percent (2.0%) increase above CPI-U in year
three of the agreement.
Health and Welfare
Members of the bargaining group are currently enrolled in Teamsters Medical Plan A where they
are contributing one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) 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 $25 in year three of the agreement. Total employee medical contribution will
therefore increase to $150 per month in year three of the agreement.
Pacific Coast Benefits Trust Supplemental pension
The Port increased its contribution to the Pacific Coast Benefits Trust supplemental pension from
$1.35 per hour compensated to $1.40 per hour compensated for all members of the bargaining
unit effective upon ratification between the parties.
Other Changes
• Establishing a procedure and process for Body Worn Cameras
• Memorandum of Understanding to reflect terms of the Port’s Vaccine policy.
• Modification in the process of Jury Duty compensation,
• Increase in Damage Reimbursement for Uniforms from $300 to $400 per incident.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8h Page 4 of 4
Meeting Date: May 23, 2023
• Increase in clothing allowance from $70 to $100 per month.
• Modification of the grievance process to reflect state procedures for the selection of an
arbitration for Law Enforcement disciplinary suspension/terminations.
Cost Impact $
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Pay
$ 78,605
$ 66,640
$ 50,932
Benefits
$ 1,584
$ 4,575
$ 2,550
Total New Money
$ 80,189
$ 71,215
$ 53,482
Total Cumulative
Cost
$80,189
$151,404
$204,886
The estimated total cumulative cost to the Port of Seattle for the duration of the contract is
$436,479.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
1. Collective Bargaining Agreement
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
None