Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No. 8e
ACTION ITEM Date of Meeting September 9, 2025
DATE: September 3, 2025
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Greg Gauthier, Labor Relations Manager
SUBJECT: Port of Seattle – Laborers Local Union 242 affiliated with the Seattle Building Trades
Memorandum of Understanding Re: Washington Protected Sick Leave for
Emergency Hires, Limited Duration Employees, and Apprentices
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to enter into an MOU with Laborers
Local Union 242 affiliated with the Seattle Building Trades, allowing the Port to contribute a 2.5%
PTO benefit for Emergency Hires, Limited Duration Employees, and Apprentices, as opposed to
maintaining and managing the Washington Protected Sick Leave contributions on behalf of those
employees. The MOU includes language indemnifying the Port relative to obligations associated
with managing and maintaining Washington Protected Sick Leave contributions on behalf of
those employees.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Port of Seattle and the Laborers Union Local 242 affiliated with the Seattle Building
Trades, representing 119 Laborers at the Port of Seattle are parties to a Maintenance
Agreement Addendum (MAA) expiring on December 31, 2028; 13 of the 119 Laborers are
designated as either Emergency Hires, Limited Duration Employees, or Apprentices.
According to the MAA, Emergency Hires, Limited Duration Employees and Apprentices are
entitled to accrue and utilize Washington Protected Sick Leave in accordance with the minimum
requirements of the Washington Paid Sick Leave Law, (a rate of one hour of paid sick leave for
every 40 hours worked or 2.5% of hours worked). Currently, the Port maintains and manages
those accruals.
Recently, the construction rates negotiated between the Laborers Local 242 and their
construction contractors, include a new 2.5% PTO benefit contribution made by employers that
corresponds with the employer’s obligations under the Washington Protected Sick Leave Law.
The contractors now make those contributions on their employees’ behalf into a trust managed
system that employees can track and utilize.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8e Page 2 of 2
Meeting Date: September 9, 2025
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Moving forward, the parties have agreed that instead of the Port maintaining and managing the
minimum requirements under the Washington Protected Sick Leave Law on behalf of Emergency
Hires, Limited Duration Employees, and Apprentices, the Port will submit those contributions to
the designated union trust administered account for those employees.
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
Effective, the first day of the first payroll period after the execution of the MOU, the Port
will contribute 2.5% into the union trust administered account on behalf of each Emergency
Hire, Limited Duration Employee, and Apprentice.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Memorandum of Understanding
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
August 13, 2024, Item 8h: New collective bargaining agreement between the Port of Seattle
and the Seattle Building Trades Council on behalf of affiliated local unions.
