Template revised September 22, 2016.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No. 8g
ACTION ITEM Date of Meeting July 8, 2025
DATE: June 23, 2025
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Janice Zahn PE., CCM, Chief Engineer
Greg Gauthier, Labor Relations Manager
SUBJECT: Memorandum of Understanding between the Port of Seattle and Seattle/King
County Building and Construction Trades Council and Western States Regional
Council of Carpenters
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) related to the 2018 Project Labor Agreement (PLA) between the Port of
Seattle and Seattle/King County Building and Construction Trades Council (SBT) and Western
States Regional Council of Carpenters.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this MOU is to standardize the working conditions provisions between the 2019
PLA and the 2024 PLA. In December 2024 the Port and SBT entered into a 5-year Project Labor
Agreement to replace the prior version. The 2024 PLA eliminated the Substance Abuse Section
which mandated drug testing by the Port and specified the responsibility for drug testing was
with the Contractor. The Port will be verifying the Contractor’s Drug Free workplace policies.
The 2018 PLA included a Substance Abuse Section and drug testing by the Port continues as part
of that provision. This MOU will allow the Port to contractually modify the 16 current Port
projects operating under the 2018 PLA to match the provisions of the 2024 PLA regarding drug
testing responsibility. The Port will then terminate the drug testing contract.
JUSTIFICATION
One of the primary goals of the Project Labor Agreement is to standardize working conditions on
Port of Seattle capital projects. This MOU provides consistent working conditions for all Port
including all PLA and non-PLA projects.
Currently contractors already have drug-free workplace programs, which include testing. This
MOU will remove the duplication of efforts by the Port and contractors saving the Port the cost
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 2 of 2
Meeting Date: July 8, 2025
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
of its current drug testing program. Finally, the MOU will result in the Port being consistent with
all other public owners in the region, none of whom do their own drug testing.
DETAILS
Currently there are 16 capital projects working under the 2018 PLA that remains in effect until
those projects are completed in Q4 2026. Six (6) capital projects under the 2024 PLA are in
construction.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
From 2019 through 2024 an average of just over 1,520 drug tests per year were administered by
the Port. Elimination of Port drug testing will save $152,000 per year for the cost of the testing
service. Additional savings will occur by eliminating the labor cost associated with drug testing.
Labor savings are estimated to be 2,280 construction labor hours per year and $285,000 per year.
In total cost savings are estimated to be $437,000 per year.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Memorandum of Understanding between the Port of Seattle and Seattle/King County
Building and Construction Trades Council and Western States Regional Council of
Carpenters
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
None
