Template revised September 22, 2016.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8c
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
June 27, 2023
DATE: June 27, 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 Teamsters Union, Local 117, representing Police Sergeants
Total Port Cost Increase for the Duration of the Agreement: $1,876,659
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 Sergeants 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 117,
representing Police Sergeants and the Port of Seattle resulted in a fair collective bargaining
agreement consistent with the Port’s priorities.
There are currently eighteen (18) Police Sergeants employed at the Port of Seattle who are
assigned to the Port of Seattle Police Department. Police Sergeants are part of the Port of Seattle
Police Department and supervise the day-to-day activities of Port of Seattle 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 $1,876,659. The
estimated cumulative cost per year of the contract is: year one, $258,658, year two $649,130,
and year three, $968,871.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 2 of 5
Meeting Date: June 27, 2023
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
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.
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 truncating the time for a Sergeant B to promote to a Sergeant A position
from 48 to 36 months; adoption of a differential pay spread between Sergeant B to Sergeant A
of five percent (5.0%); an additional three percent (3.0%) premium effective January 1, 2023, in
recognition of additional duties and responsibilities associated with the supervision of
Contracted Law Enforcement Officers and administering the Body Worn Camera equipment;
mandatory overtime exceptions that will allow the Port Police Department flexibility in assigning
mandatory overtime assignments to Sergeants to ensure that one Sergeant is on duty or two,
when a Cruise Ship is scheduled, on short notice; the ability to extend an Sergeant’s shift in order
to meet Minimum Staffing Levels; the payment of 2X overtime effective June 1, 2023, to
Sergeants filling vacant shifts on weekends to meet Minimum staffing levels, on weekends during
the Cruise Season from May 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023, for shift extensions and
mandatory overtime assignments on less than fourteen (14) days’ notice.
1
Other additions include a modification to squad assignments allowing for necessary weekend
coverage for Sergeants; restoration of a Sergeant cancel bid vacation day through voluntary
overtime procedures; modification of the holiday provision to allow Sergeants to exchange up to
six holidays that were not used or cash out for vacations days that were taken earlier in the same
year; protected sick leave language where the Port identify that portion of accrued sick leave that
is available for use according to the minimum requirements of the Washington Paid Sick Leave
law; modification of the definition of immediate family for bereavement leave to include aunts
and uncles; and 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.
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 $1.50 per hour compensated for members in the bargaining unit.
1
The double overtime cost is estimated base upon an approximation of qualifying double-time hours over
the duration of the contract.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 3 of 5
Meeting Date: June 27, 2023
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
Increase Detective Differential from four percent (4.0%) to five percent (5.0%); clarifying the
Canine Differential language by specifying that a Sergeant receives only one premium of four
percent (4.0%) premium when either assigned a Canine or is assigned to the canine team; Police
Chief has the discretion on whether to assign a canine to a Second Sergeant assigned to the
canine team.
Terms of the Port’s Vaccine mandate policy were included in this agreement as a Memorandum
of Understanding. Sergeants who complied with the policy will receive a personal day to be used
in 2023. A reopener was provided in the Officers Bill of Rights Memorandum of Understanding.
Language was included under the Employment Opportunity provision acknowledging the Port
and the Union commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
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, 2022, through December 31, 2024.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Wages
Classification
Current
Rate
Effective
1/1/22 Base
Hourly Rate
(+9.0%)
Effective
1/1/23 Base
Hourly Rate
(7.0%)
Effective
1/1/24 Base
Hourly Rate
(Estimated 3%
COLA + 2.0%)
Police Sergeant
Sergeant B
Sergeant A
$57.11
$59.98
$62.25
$65.38
$66.61
$69.96
$69.94
$73.46
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)
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 4 of 5
Meeting Date: June 27, 2023
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
October to October Index, plus an additional two-percent (2.0%) increase above CPI-U in year
three of the agreement.
The Sergeant Detective differential premium was increased from 4.0% to 5.0%. Sergeants will
receive an additional three percent (3.0%) premium in recognition of performing additional
duties and responsibilities.
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 $1.50 per hour compensated for all members of the bargaining
unit effective January 1, 2024.
Other Changes
• An additional three percent (3.0%) premium in recognition of additional duties and
responsibilities associated with the supervision of Contract Law Enforcement Officers and
the administration of Body Worn Camera equipment effective January 1, 2023 and for the
duration of the agreement.
• Modifications to the mandatory overtime provision to allow the Port Police Department
flexibility in assigning mandatory overtime to vacant shifts for the duration of the
agreement.
• Ability to extend a Sergeant shift and provide less than fourteen (14) days’ notice to meet
Minimum Staffing Levels.
• Establishing a procedure and process for Body Worn Cameras
• Modification to the Sick Leave provision in accordance with the Washington State Paid
sick leave law.
• Equal Employment Opportunity modified to reflect the Port and Union’s commitment to
diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Modification of the definition of immediate family for bereavement leave to include
Aunts and Uncles.
• Memorandum of Understanding to reflect terms of the Port’s Vaccine policy
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8c Page 5 of 5
Meeting Date: June 27, 2023
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
Cost Impact $
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Pay
$ 232,688
$350,656
$ 292,232
Benefits
$ 25,970
$ 39,816
$ 27,509
Total New Money
$ 258,658
$ 390,472
$319,741
Total Cumulative
Cost
$ 258,658
$649,130
$968,871
The estimated total cumulative cost to the Port of Seattle for the duration of the contract is
$1,876,659.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
1. Collective Bargaining Agreement
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
None.
