COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          8f 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting      March 26, 2024 
DATE:     March 26, 2024 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Mikel O’Brien, Senior Director of Labor Relations 
Milton Ellis, Labor Relations Manager 
SUBJECT:  New collective bargaining agreement  between the Port of Seattle and the 
International Association of Firefighters Union, Local 1257, representing Fire Alarm
Technicians 
Total Port Cost Increase for the Duration of the Agreement: $ 0 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a new collective
bargaining agreement between the Port of Seattle and the International Association of
Firefighters, Local 1257, representing Fire Alarm Technicians at the Port Fire Department
covering the period from March 26, 2024, through December 31, 2024. 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
Good faith bargaining between the International Association of Firefighters, Local 1257,
representing Fire Alarm Technicians and the Port of Seattle resulted in a fair collective bargaining
agreement consistent with the Port’s priorities. 
There are currently two (2) Fire Alarm Technicians employed at the Port of Seattle who are
assigned to the Port of Seattle Fire Department.  The Fire Alarm Technicians are responsible for
working on the Fire Alarm systems on Port properties.  Their primary function consists of
maintaining and repairing fire alarm and sprinkler system configurations on Port properties. 
The Fire Alarm Technicians were removed from the Firefighters contract because they were not
eligible to be enrolled in the Law Enforcement and Firefighters (LEOFF) retirement system similar
to Firefighters.1 As a result, they were not interested arbitration eligible pursuant to RCW 41.56.
They therefore had to form their own bargaining unit. This new contract provides the two Fire
Alarm Technicians with some of the same benefits that they currently receive under the
Firefighters contract. 
1 The two Fire Alarm Technicians are currently members of the Firefighters contract. They will be removed from
the Firefighters contract effective March 26, 2024. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

             COMMISSION AGENDA– Action Item No. 8f                                   Page 2 of 5 
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024 

This contract represents a first-time agreement for this bargaining group. The agreement is for 
nine (9) months covering the period from March 26, through December 31, 2024. The estimated 
total cumulative cost for wages and benefits increase is $291,164.
The cost is based upon an increase of 5.4% of the base monthly rate of $10,834 (which includes 
a nine percent (9.0%) premium for the Fire Alarm Technicians being on day shift and on-call for 
the nine months of the agreement from March 26, 2024, through December 31, 2024. 
The cost also consists of a zero percent (0%) increase in health insurance for the term of the
agreement. 
Other additions to the agreement consist of a Non-Discrimination provision that recognize the
promotion of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace; union leave provision of up to 16
hours per year for the bargaining group; management rights provision that delineates rights of
management under the agreement; a seniority and layoff provision; a probationary provision
that specifies a one-year probationary period; a discipline and grievance procedure; hours of
work provision that allows for an alternate work schedule of forty hours a week; an overtime and
call back provision; leave provisions consisting of sick and disability leave, family medical, shared 
leave, paid parental leave, bereavement, emergency and military leave; and vacation leave.
Members of the bargaining group will also be provided with thirteen (13) holidays. 
Employees in the bargaining group will remain in the Northwest Firefighters Trust Medical Plan.
As part of this medical plan, the Fire Alarm Technicians will be eligible to participate in a Voluntary
Employee Benefit Association (VEBA) program that provides an annual Port contribution of
$2,000 for employee only and $4,000 for Employee and dependents. 
Regarding pension, employees in the bargaining group will continue to be covered under the
Washington State Public Employment Retirement System (PERS). A Port contribution of $1.15
per hours worked will be provided only to the two Fire Alarm Technicians who were previously
in the Firefighter bargaining unit. This benefit will not be extended to any Fire Alarm Technician 
hired after October 5, 2023. 
The contract also provides for a Port contribution of one hundred dollars ($100) a month towards
the Washington State Council of Firefighters Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP) to
offset employee medical expenses after retirement. 
Other additions to the agreement include a nine percent (9.0%) differential in recognition of
working day shift assignment and being on-call; longevity differential based upon years of service;
and an Education premium. 


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

             COMMISSION AGENDA– Action Item No. 8f                                   Page 3 of 5 
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024 

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 
Term of the Agreement 
March 26, 2024, through December 31, 2024. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 

Wages 
Classification     Previous Rate       Effective 
1/1/2023           3/26/24      Base
Monthly    Rate 
(5.4%    COLA) 
was     applied
1/1/24i 
Fire      Alarm  $10,834.60/month   $11,419.69/month 
Technician 

Effective January 1, 2024, employees were provided with an 5.4% cost of living increase based
on the Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue CPI-U (All Urban Consumers) October 2022 to October 2023 
Index in 2024. ii 
Health and Welfare 
Members of the bargaining group are currently enrolled in the Northwest Firefighters Trust
Medical Plan for medical and dental coverage. 
Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP) 
Members of the bargaining group will be provided with a Port contribution of one- hundred
dollars ($100) a month for their enrollment in the Washington State Council of Firefighters
Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP) to offset employee medical expenses at
retirement. 


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

             COMMISSION AGENDA– Action Item No. 8f                                   Page 4 of 5 
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024 
Pension 
Members of the bargaining group will continue coverage under the Washington State Public
Employment Retirement System (PERS). In addition, employees assigned to the bargaining group
prior to October 5, 2023, will be enrolled in the Firefighter retirement fund and receive a Port
contribution of $1.15 per hour work. 
Other Additions include 

• An Equal Employment Opportunity provision that complies with both state and federal
law and provides a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion 
• Union Leave provision of no more than sixteen (16) hours per year 
• Management Rights provision 
• Labor Management Committee/Safety 
• Seniority Provision that provides for a one- year probationary period 
• Layoff Provision 
• Grievance Dispute resolution procedure 
• Hours of Work and Overtime provision 
• Light Duty provision 
• Call Back provision 
• Sick Leave and Disability Provision 
• Family Medical Leave provision 
• Vacation and Holiday provision 
• Bereavement and Emergency Leave Provision 
• Military Leave Provision 
• Uniform and Protective Clothing provision 
• Deferred Compensation Provision 
• Strike and Lockout provision 
• Drug testing procedure 

Cost Impact $         Year 1 
Pay                   $205,559 
Benefits               $ 85,605 
Total New Money     $0 
Total Cumulative     $291,164 
Cost 

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

             COMMISSION AGENDA– Action Item No. 8f                                   Page 5 of 5 
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024 

The estimated total cumulative cost to the Port of Seattle for the duration of the contract is
$291,164. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
1.  Collective Bargaining Agreement 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
None 
i The 5.4% wage rate was applied on January 1, 2024, to the Fire Alarm Technicians as members of the Local 1257
Firefighters contract. 
ii The COLA applied to the Firefighters agreement upon which the two Fire Alarm Technicians are currently
enrolled. For purposes of this agreement and the cost associated this agreement, the value of this COLA will be
prorated from March 26, 2024, through December 31, 2024. 















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