PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      4c 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting     August 23, 2016 
DATE:    August 16, 2016 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   David Freiboth, Senior Labor Relations Director 
Kim Ramsey, Labor Relations Manager 
SUBJECT:  Memorandum of Agreement between the Port of Seattle and International Union of
Operating Engineers, Local 286 

ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to execute a memorandum of
agreement (MOA) between the Port of Seattle and the International Union of Operating
Engineers, Local 286, to establish a job classification within the bargaining unit, Baggage
Systems Engineer.
SYNOPSIS 
To meet growing demands on the baggage handling system at Sea-Tac, this classification is
designed to use experienced operating engineers to closely monitor the system with system wide
focus and prioritize service while developing necessary contingencies to meet customer need in
real time.  This MOA classifies the job of Baggage Systems Engineer to the existing Operating
Engineer bargaining unit at a pay rate equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the journeyman
Operating Engineer rate of pay. Two Baggage Systems Engineer FTEs, approved as part of the
2016 budget process, are one component in the overall development of a baggage system
operations management program. This MOA is a placeholder and approval does not commit the
Port to filling the budgeted positions. Actual hiring is subject to future management approval. 
These Baggage Systems Engineers will provide additional needed system monitoring to ensure
smooth and efficient operations. They will be critical in proactively taking actions as system
operational conditions escalate to avoid system upsets and insure the response to system upsets
are prioritized when they do occur to best maintain optimal baggage throughput. Incumbents
will use their knowledge and experience of Sea-Tac's baggage handling systems to direct
operations, triage alarms, aid in contingency actions, and trend performance.  In addition,
incumbents will participate with the baggage systems team to identify opportunities for overall
system improvements through systems data analysis. 
Adding these positions will allow system operations to continue the move from a reactive to a
proactive operations model. Early testing with existing resources indicate positive outcomes
such as reduced flight delays and missed bags resulting in cost avoidance to the airlines and
travelers, increasing customer service and satisfaction. 

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
August 16, 2016 
Page 2 of 3 
The cost associated with filling the two budgeted FTE's, annualized for 2016, is estimated at
$153,129 
BACKGROUND 
As baggage volumes continue to increase with airport growth, each of the six outbound baggage
systems has become increasingly taxed.  The outbound systems (C96, C60, C61 and C25) are
most impacted by the large growth of Delta, the international carrier growth, and the continued
summer peaks of Southwest straining all systems. With limited ability to add capacity and the
Baggage Optimization project not able to provide operational relief in the short term, the need
for proactive systems management practices, and a best management practice in general, are 
even more necessary to mitigate the impacts under the current conditions. 
Baggage Systems Engineers are technically trained in the operations of the baggage systems, and
will be responsible for monitoring all baggage systems via the Port's Facility Monitoring System
(FMS), Video Monitoring System (VMS) and the various baggage reporting systems. This
proactive monitoring allows for pre-emptive actions to be taken before a baggage upset condition
reaches a critical status. Taking pre-emptive action can reduce the duration of an event, and 
reduce the impact, by informing the airline and engaging them in mitigating activities.
Knowledgeable eyes-on monitoring of the systems is considered a best management practice as
evidenced by their use in airports in Europe as well as Delta's operation at John F. Kennedy
International Airport. 
Currently system alarms and trouble calls are communicated from the Aviation Operations
Airport Control Center (ACC) by Senior Operations Controllers (SOC) represented by ILWU
Local 9 to Aviation Maintenance. Port Labor Relations is currently in negotiations with ILWU
Local 9 regarding the potential transfer of the "call out" task during peak hours of operation to
the position of Baggage Systems Engineer when on duty. 
SCOPE OF THE AGREEMENT 
The agreement establishes a rate of pay and other conditions of employment related to the
Baggage Systems Engineer positions and will amend the June 1, 2014  May 31, 2018 Collective
Bargaining Agreement between the Port of Seattle and the International Union of Operating
Engineers, Local 286.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
August 16, 2016 
Page 3 of 3 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 

Annual Cost       FTE         Pay Rate       Benefit Rate     Total Cost 2016 
2016          2          $32.72          50%        $153,129.00 
2017          2          $33.70          50%        $210,288.00 

Note: Costs identified are for comparison purposes only. The action requested is to execute the
memorandum of agreement. Budget costs and numbers of positions are developed through the
expense budgeting process. Two such positions were approved through the 2016 budgeting
process, but are not yet filled. 

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 

Memorandum of Agreement between the Port of Seattle and the International Union of
Operating Engineers, Local 286 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 

January 12, 2016  Commission authorized full collective bargaining agreement with
Operating Engineers, Local 286.