OLYMPIA — State ferry workers are approving new two-year contracts that would strip them of roughly $10 million a year in salary and benefits.
Five of six unions had ratified their revamped collective bargaining agreements as of Wednesday, union officials said. The new deals take effect July 1, 2011.
Under the agreements, salaries will be reduced by 3 percent and the rate of pay for overtime will drop from double time to time and a half.
Also, the controversial provision of paying relief workers for their time spent commuting to a terminal for a fill-in shift is being eliminated. Instead, those workers will be paid a set rate for their travel time while still being reimbursed for their mileage.
Finally, crew sizes may change with fewer workers on some sailings. Exactly how this will be handled will be determined in consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard, which sets minimum staffing levels for ferries.
Unions which had ratified the agreements include the Masters, Mates and Pilots, Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, the Metal Trades Council and Office and Professional Employees International Union.
The Inlandboatmen’s Union is expected to release results of its voting today or Friday.
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