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State of Washington

 Marine Employees' Commission 

-Working together for uninterrupted ferry operation-

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

 

--WHAT'S NEW--

FINAL 2008 SALARY SURVEY RESULTS

The final 2008 MEC Survey results (in Adobe format) is now available for your review in preparation for adoption at the Commission's July 25, 2008 meeting in Seattle. Click on this link:  MEC Final 071508.

2009-2015 STRATEGIC PLAN

The Marine Employees' Commission Strategic Plan has been revised for 2009-2015 and a link has been added to the "Forms and Info" section of this web site.

DECISION DIGEST IS UPDATED

The Marine Employees' Commission Decision Digest been revised through June 2008 and a link has been added to the "Decision Digest" section of this web site.

COMMISSIONER POSITION

The term of the Commissioner position representing management, currently held by John Sullivan, expired June 15,2007. If you are interested in applying or nominating someone to this position, please go to the Governor’s website (http://www.governor.wa.gov) and click on “Boards and Commissions” for the appropriate forms.

RULES REVIEW

Review of MEC's rules, WAC 316-55, Impasse Resolution, has begun. This chapter needs revision due to 2007 legislative changes. Please send any proposed to changes to the MEC Office before July 16, to allow presentation at the July 25, 2008 public meeting.

2007-08 GMAP Performance Results

The Marine Employees' Commission's GMAP performance results for 2007-08 have been updated and are available on the GMAP page.

 

Welcome!

Introducing Us

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 WSF system is the nation's largest ferry fleet, consisting of 28 vessels--24 passenger and vehicle and 5 passenger only. The WSF system carries 25 million passengers each year (5 million more than Amtrak carries nationwide) and 11 million vehicles. The WSF system is very important to transportation, tourism, and the overall economy of the Puget Sound area.

 

Our Mission

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

 

Our Purpose

The purpose of the MEC is to:

bulletAdjudicate all complaints, grievances, and disputes between labor and management arising from ferry system operations
bulletProvide impasse mediation
bulletDetermine bargaining units
bulletConduct salary survey
bulletCertify fair representation organizations

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

 

Our Goal

Our 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:

bulletIBU (Inlandboatmens' Union of the Pacific)
bulletMEBA (Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association)
bulletMMP (Masters, Mates and Pilots)
bulletOPEIU (Office & Professional Employees International Union)
bulletSEIU (Service Employees International Union)
bulletMetal Trades
bulletFASPAA (Ferry Agents, Supervisors and Project Administrators Association)

 

Information Pages

Calendar

Case List

Decision Digest

Forms and Info

GMAP

MEC Decisions

MEC History

Meeting Information

Personnel

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 July 21, 2008.

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