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State of Washington

 Marine Employees' Commission 

-Working together for peaceful ferry labor relations-

 

Photo by Stephen J. Brown, courtesy of Washington State Ferries

 

Welcome!

 

-What's New-

 

MEC SALARY SURVEY

The salary survey was distributed at the February 26, 2010 Marine Employees' Commission public meeting. Corrections were to have been received at the MEC office by Friday, March 5. Hay Group will then make any necessary corrections by March 12. The survey will be formally adopted at that time and posted on this web site.

 

PENDING LEGISLATION

Proposed Substitute Senate Bill 6109 abolishes the Marine Employees' Commission and transfers all functions of the Marine Employees' Commission to the Public Employment Relations Commission effective July 1, 2010. On February 26, this bill was placed on the Senate Rules "X" File. House Bill 2838 and Senate Bill 6381, Transportation Budget Bills, both retain the MEC at nearly current funding.    

 

GMAP

The MEC's performance measures for the second quarter of FY 10 have been finalized and are on MEC's GMAP web page.

 

MEC'S RULES

No public comments were received for proposed changes to WAC 316-55, Impasse Resolution, by January 15, 2010. MEC's assistant attorney general then conducted a final review and the proposed rule changes were submitted to the Code Reviser's Office for inclusion in the Washington State Register, which will be published March 17, 2010.

 

About the MEC

The Washington State Ferries system is the nation's largest ferry fleet, consisting of 23 vessels--21 passenger and vehicle and 2 passenger only. The WSF system carries 23 million passengers each year and 11 million vehicles; it is very important to transportation, tourism, and the overall economy of the Puget Sound area.

In 1983, the Washington State Legislature established the Marine Employees' Commission (MEC) to protect the rights prescribed by Chapter 47.64 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW):  rights of employers, employees, labor organizations, and the public. The MEC is to ensure the operation of the ferry system is not disrupted by labor disputes, by providing the specialized attention required to resolve the unique and complex labor relations questions that arise in the operation of the Washington State Ferry (WSF) system. The WSF system operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so disputes need to be resolved quickly.

The Marine Employees' Commission is composed of three part-time Commissioners appointed by the Governor representing labor, industry, and maritime affairs.

 

MEC's Mission

MEC's mission is to encourage peaceful labor relations between WSF management, state ferry employees and their bargaining representatives, in order to provide continuous operation of the Washington state ferry system.

 

 

MEC's Purpose

MEC's purpose is to:

  • Adjudicate all complaints, grievances, and disputes between labor and management arising from ferry system operations
  • Provide impasse mediation
  • Determine bargaining units
  • Conduct salary survey
  • Certify fair representation organizations

MEC operates under Chapter 47.64 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Title 316 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

 

MEC's Goal

MEC's goal is to quickly resolve the unique and complex labor relations questions that rise. Commission members are trained as administrative law judges and hold formal administrative hearings to resolve in a timely manner the often complex disputes in which parties allege violations of the contract or the law. Monthly meetings are held with labor and management, to provide a neutral forum for on-going labor relations dialogue.

The Commissioners participate in other collective bargaining roles as well, including the provision of a biennial salary survey to be used by labor and management during contract negotiations.

The labor unions under MEC jurisdiction are:

  • IBU (Inlandboatmens' Union of the Pacific)

  • MEBA (Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association)
  • MMP (Masters, Mates and Pilots)
  • OPEIU (Office & Professional Employees International Union)
  • SEIU (Service Employees International Union)
  • Metal Trades
  • FASPAA (Ferry Agents, Supervisors and Project Administrators Association)

 

Important MEC Information

                    Calendar

                    Case List

                    Decision Digest

                    Forms and Info

                    GMAP

                    Legislature 2010

                    MEC Decisions

                    MEC History

                    Meeting Information

                    Personnel

                    Requesting Public Records

                    Statutes and Rules

                    Links

   Marine Employees' Commission

   Evergreen Plaza Building, Suite 104

 711 Capitol Way South

PO Box 40902

Olympia WA  98504-0902

(360) 586-6354

(360) 586-0820--fax

 

This web page was updated March 8, 2010.

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