COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
ACTION ITEM

Item No.
Date of Meeting

DATE:

October 15, 2026

TO:

Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director

FROM:

Michael Miskell, Labor Relations Manager
Milton Ellis, Assistant Director of Labor Relations

8d
November 17, 2026

SUBJECT: New collective bargaining agreement between the Port of Seattle and the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 46 (IBEW Local 46),
representing Electronic Technicians (ELT).
Total Port Cost Increase for the Duration of the Agreement: $4,162,697
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a new collective
bargaining agreement (CBA) between the Port of Seattle and the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers Local 46, Electronic Technicians (ELT) assigned to the Port of Seattle Aviation
Maintenance, Marine Maintenance and Port Construction Services divisions, covering the period
from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2029.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Good faith bargaining between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 46
(IBEW Local 46) representing Electronic Technicians (ELT), and the Port of Seattle resulted in a
fair collective bargaining agreement consistent with the Port's priorities.
There are currently about sixty (60) Electronic Technicians (ELT) at the Port of Seattle. One group
of about twenty (20) Electronic Technicians services the airport's Satellite Transit System, and
the other group of about forty (40) Electronic Technicians services a variety of electronic systems
and underlying infrastructure.
This agreement is for three years, covering the period from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2029.
The estimated total additional cost for wages and benefit increases is $4,162,697. The estimated
additional cost per year of the contract is: year one, $813,450; and year two, $1,452,860; and
year three $1,896,387.
Other changes include defining our Supervisor position, clarification on phone and computer
consultation overtime, updates to the bereavement leave language, creating a path for
probationary employees that successfully complete their probationary training prior to the end

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA - Action Item No. 8d
Meeting Date: November 17, 2026

Page 2 of 3

of the probationary training period, to work alone and be paid at the full ET/ACS rate of pay, with
management approval, and grievance timeline language updates.
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 June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2029
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Wages
Classification

Current
Base Rate

Effective
6/1/26
Base Rate

Effective
6/1/27
Base Rate

Effective
6/1/28
Base Rate

Probationary
Electronic
Technician
Automated Control
Specialist/Electronic
Technician
ACS/ET Supervisor
General Supervisor

$64.67

$67.26

$69.95

$72.75

$71.86

$74.73

$77.72

$80.83

$79.05
$86.23

$82.21
$89.68

$85.50
$93.27

$88.92
$97.00

A four percent (4%) increase each year of the collective bargaining agreement.
Pension/Retirement
The current Port contribution to the Puget Sound Electrical Workers Pension Trust on behalf of
each employee is $8.13 for each hour compensated. This new agreement will increase the Port's
contribution for each hour compensated to $8.24 in year 1 of the agreement, $8.36 in year 2 of
the agreement, and $8.49 in year 3 of the agreement.
Port contribution to the Pacific Coast Pension Plan remains at fifty cents ($.50) base rate for all
hours compensated for each employee.
Port contribution to the Puget Sound Electrical Workers Annuity/401K remains at four and onehalf percent (4.5%) of gross monthly wages for each employee.

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA - Action Item No. 8d
Meeting Date: November 17, 2026

Page 3 of 3

Healthcare
The current Port contribution to the Puget Sound Electrical Workers Healthcare Trust Fund for
each employee constitutes a lump sum amount of $1,400 per month. Port contribution to the
Fund will increase to $1,745 on June 1, 2026, $1,800 on June 1, 2027, and $1,850 on June 1, 2028.
Other Changes
•
•
•
•

•

Further defining our Supervisor position.
Clarification on phone and computer consultation overtime.
Updated the bereavement leave language.
Created a path for probationary employees that successfully complete their
probationary training prior to the end of the probationary training period, to work alone
and be paid at the full ET/ACS rate of pay, with management approval.
Updated grievance timeline language.

Cost Impact $
Pay
Benefits
Total New Money

Year 1
$478,888
$334,563
$813,450

Year 2
$996,817
$456,043
$1,452,860

Year 3
$1,342,194
$554,193
$1,896,387

Total Cumulative
Cost

$813,450

$2,266,311

$4,162,697

The estimated total cumulative cost to the Port of Seattle for the duration of the contract is
$4,162,697.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Collective Bargaining Agreement
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
None

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.