Bill > HB1264

This bill updates the state's approach to setting salaries for Washington State Ferry system employees by modifying the existing law to ensure more competitive compensation. The legislation requires the Office of Financial Management to conduct comprehensive salary and fringe benefit surveys for different employee groups (such as deck, engine room, masters and mates, and trades employees) by contracting with a nationally recognized firm. The surveys will compare wages, benefits, and working conditions with public and private sector employees in specific geographical areas along the West Coast, including Alaska and British Columbia. The bill specifies detailed comparison criteria for each employee group, such as considering factors like United States Coast Guard licensing requirements for masters and mates, and local maintenance facility rates for trades employees. The surveys will be used in collective bargaining negotiations to help ensure that ferry system employees receive competitive compensation. The bill also maintains the existing framework for collective bargaining, including provisions for arbitration and legislative review of agreements, while adding more specific guidance for conducting salary comparisons. Additionally, the legislation protects the confidentiality of salary survey information collected from private employers and requires the survey results to be made available by April 1st of even-numbered years.

Labor and Employment, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1264&Year=2025&Initiative=false