H-2926.2

HOUSE BILL 2496

ByRepresentatives Nance, Hutchins, and Simmons

AN ACT Relating to Washington state ferries captains; and amending RCW 47.64.340.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 47.64.340 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 16 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The captain of a Washington state ferry vessel, also known as the master of a vessel or the commanding officer, is the ultimate authority on, ((manager of,)) and has responsibility for, the entire vessel and its Washington state ferries personnel while it is in ((service))their command. The captain's responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

(a) Ensuring the safe navigation of the vessel and its crew and passengers;

(b) Following all applicable international, federal, and state laws and regulations, and agency policies ((and regulations));

(c) ((Supervising))Directing crew in performance, operations, training, security, and environmental protection;

(d) Overseeing all aspects of vessel operations;

(e) Ensuring that the vessel operations and its Washington state ferries personnel satisfy performance expectations set forth by the department; and

(f) ((Managing))Coordinating vessel arrivals and departures, as well as all other vessel operations while the vessel is in ((service))their command.

(((3) [(2)] Effective July 1, 2013, the public employment relations commission shall sever from the masters, mates, and pilots bargaining unit all captains. By August 31, 2011, if a majority of the captains in the masters, mates, and pilots bargaining unit indicate by vote that they desire to be included in a newly formed captains-only bargaining unit, the public employment relations commission shall certify a captains-only bargaining unit, to be effective July 1, 2013. For the vote described in this subsection, a union seeking to represent captains does not have to demonstrate a showing of interest to be included on a ballot. Notwithstanding the results of a vote, captains shall remain a part of the masters, mates, and pilots bargaining unit through June 30, 2013.

(5) [(4)]))(2) By August 31, 2024, if a majority of the captains in the masters and pilots bargaining unit indicate by vote that they desire to be included in the combined masters, mates, and pilots bargaining unit, the public employees relations commission shall certify a combined masters, mates, and pilots bargaining unit, to be effective July 1, 2025.

(3) Beginning with negotiations covering the ((2013-2015))2025-2027 biennium, the employer and the exclusive bargaining representative of the ((captains-only))masters, mates, and pilots bargaining unit or units must negotiate agreements that are consistent with this section.

(((6) [(5)] A collective bargaining agreement may not contain any provision that extends the term of an existing collective bargaining agreement or applicability of items incompatible with this section in an existing collective bargaining agreement.))

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