Light at the end of the tunnel? Wage increases proposed for new union at Port of Olympia
A brief discussion at the beginning of Monday’s Port of Olympia work session suggests that the port and a new union known as Local 47-B might be getting closer to finalizing its first contract.
The discussion was triggered by an effort to add an item to Monday’s agenda.
The amendment was proposed by Commissioner Amy Evans Harding who wanted to add the approval of what she called the “47-B MOU,” otherwise known as a memorandum of understanding.
“I am just eager to get this moving forward for both 47-B and our staff,” she told the commission.
Local 47-B, which represents those performing maintenance, technical services or operations in Facilities Maintenance, Swantown Boatworks and Swantown Marina Departments, was formed about 18 months ago and has been negotiating its first contract ever since.
The pace of the process has frequently been called into question, including at last week’s regular commission meeting when more than a dozen people spoke during public comment and urged approval of the contract.
Evans Harding didn’t explain the details of the proposed MOU, but Commissioner Joe Downing did, saying that what she was referring to was a plan to give 47-B members a 4% raise now and a 4% cost of living adjustment in January.
Despite filling in the blanks, Downing added that he hated to be a “negative nelly” in the conversation because the port commission typically doesn’t vote during work sessions, except in “extraordinary, exigent or emergency circumstances where action is necessary prior to the next commission meeting.”
He added that when the commission votes they also need to hear public comment, which typically is not a feature of a port work session.
“Why do we need to pass it this afternoon as opposed to one week from now?” Downing asked.
Evans Harding ultimately withdrew her motion. However, Local 47-B business agent Rob Rose confirmed the details of the MOU Monday evening.
Once the commission votes on it, which he expects soon, the 47-B members are set to get a 4 percent raise in November, followed by the 4 percent boost in January, Rose said.
Rose acknowledged that it shows progress on the part of the port.
“We hope the momentum continues and that they come back to the table and we reach a fair agreement soon,” he said.
Why has it taken so long to get a contract? Rose believes there was an unwillingness to negotiate on the part of the former port executive director, plus the mediator’s schedule has been a challenge, he said.
The port last made a wage package offer to the union in June and the union countered their offer with one of its own, Rose said. They are still waiting to hear back on their counter offer, he said.
Rose made clear that the interim raises are by “no means the actual wage package” that the union is trying to secure for the contract.
“We still need to negotiate that,” he said.
