Port of Seattle Commission 
Policy Directive on 
Construction Labor Practices for 
Projects Located on Port of 
Seattle Property 
As Amended 
April 24, 2018 
Document last updated July 17, 20181 



1 Typographical error related to the adoption date of Resolution 3725 corrected.

SECTION 1. 
For major construction contracts (excluding small works executed per RCW 39.04.155): 
A.  The Port shall evaluate the applicability of a project labor agreement (PLA) for each
contract according to the following criteria: 
(1)  The assumption will be in favor of employing a PLA for construction contracts
that are anticipated to be in excess of $5 million at the time of bid or, if absent a
bid, at the time of the contract award. 
(2)  Project needs for labor continuity and stability, including analysis of labor needs
by trade 
(3)  Project complexity, including cost and duration 
(4)  Value of having uniform working conditions 
(5)  Potential impact of PLA on small business opportunities 
(6)  Past labor disputes or issues indicating risk of delay 
(7)  Potential PLA impact on project cost 
(8)  Project presents specific safety concerns to the public 
(9)  Value of an established PLA grievance process  to resolve labor-management or
jurisdictional disputes 
(10)  Other considerations particular to individual projects 
(Res. 3746, 1, 2018; Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
B.  The Port shall require the payment and reporting of prevailing wages per RCW and
State Department of Labor and Industries requirements. (Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
C.  Commission approval is needed to employ a PLA. (Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
D.  For contracts $1 million in value or greater, the Port shall establish: 
(1) Appropriate apprentice hiring goals. 


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(2) Appropriate aspirational women and minority apprentice hiring goals.  (Res.
3736, 1, 2017; Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
E.  For contracts under a PLA, the Port shall establish priority hire goals. (Res. 3746, 1,
2018; Res. 3736, 1, 2017) 
SECTION 2. 
For tenant-administered construction contracts paid for entirely or in part by the Port through
tenant reimbursement or other means, the Port shall: 
A.  Encourage tenants to examine the applicability of a PLA for each contract according
to the criteria in Section 1(A) above. (Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
B.  As  a  condition  of  cost  reimbursement,  require  the  payment  and  reporting  of
prevailing wages as per RCW and State Department of Labor and Industries requirements. 
(Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
C.  For contracts $1 million in value or greater: 
(1) Require the establishment of appropriate apprentice hiring goals. 
(2) Encourage the establishment of appropriate aspirational women and minority
apprentice hiring goals. (Res. 3736, 1, 2017; Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
D.  For contracts under a PLA, the Port shall establish priority hire goals. (Res. 3746, 1,
2018; Res. 3736, 1, 2017) 
SECTION 3. 
For construction contracts performed on Port property at the full cost of tenants, the Port shall: 
A.  Encourage tenants to examine the applicability of a PLA for each contract according
to the criteria in Section I(A) above. (Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
B.  As  a  provision  of  initial  requests  for  proposal  or  opening  negotiations,  as
appropriate: 
(1) As a lease provision, require the payment and reporting of prevailing wages as
per RCW and State Department of Labor and Industries requirements. 
(2) For contracts $1 million in value or greater: 
(a) Require the establishment of appropriate apprentice hiring goals. 

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(b) Encourage  the  establishment  of  appropriate  aspirational  women  and
minority apprentice hiring goals. (Res. 3736, 1, 2017; Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
(3) For contracts under a PLA, the Port shall establish priority hire goals. (Res. 3746,
1, 2018; Res. 3736, 1, 2017) 
C.  If  an  advertised  or  negotiated  development  opportunity  featuring  the  above
provisions fails to advance staff: 
(1) Shall  investigate  the  circumstances,  to  include  discussions  with  potential
proposers and labor. 
(2) Is authorized to incorporate modified construction labor provisions for scoring
the solicitation and incorporation in the eventual agreement. (Res. 3725, 1,
2016) 
SECTION 4. 
The  Projects and Procurements Committee is hereby chartered to work with staff and
stakeholders to develop standard language to be included in Port PLAs unless otherwise
authorized by the Commission. (Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
SECTION 5. 
In each case above, the Port will establish reliable, auditable, and disclosable measures to
ensure compliance. (Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 
SECTION 6. 
The Port staff will seek in cooperation with regional government agencies, construction trade
unions, contractors and training institutions to develop cooperative programs to advance the
training  and  placement  of  apprentices,  with  emphasis  on  expanding  opportunity  for
underrepresented groups. (Res. 3725, 1, 2016) 





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Revision History 
April 24, 2018             Resolution 3746 amended the policy directive to remove applicability
references to construction labor costs at or above $5 million and
instead identified applicability based on construction contracts in
excess of $5 million. 
November 28, 2017      Resolution 3736 amended the policy directive to alter contract
thresholds for the purposes of applying priority hire goals. 
October 25, 2016        Resolution 3725, establishing the Policy Directive on Construction
Labor Practices for Projects Located on Port of Seattle Property, was
adopted. 













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