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State of Washington
Marine Employees' Commission
(MEC)
-Working
together for peaceful ferry labor relations-
Photo by Stephen
J. Brown, courtesy of Washington State Ferries
Welcome!
What's New
Temporary Layoff
The MEC must comply with ESSB 6503, the "temporary layoff" law. Both MEC
employees are part-time, so MEC requested and received approval to be closed for
a half-day. In addition, MEC requested and received approval for a variance
from the dates listed in the law. The MEC office will be closed the first
Wednesday afternoon of each month.
Following is the MEC's approved temporary layoff schedule:
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
1pm-5pm
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 1pm-5pm
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 1pm-5pm
Wednesday, October 6, 2010 1pm-5pm
Wednesday, December 1, 2010 1pm-5pm
Wednesday, January 5, 2011 1pm-5pm
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 1pm-5pm
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 1pm-5pm
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
1pm-5pm
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
1pm-5pm
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we comply with this new law.
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
- 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:
Important MEC Information
Calendar
Case List
Decision Digest
Forms and
Info
GMAP
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 August 30,
2010.
Send mail to
mec@olywa.net with questions
or comments about this web site.
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