City officials and Local 1937 union leaders reached a tentative agreement Monday, Aug. 26, after over a year of bargaining.
The Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees Local 1937 represents more than 400 city workers, including parks operations and maintenance staff, wastewater treatment staff, Arne Hanna Aquatic Center employees, fleet mechanics and more. The local’s contract with the city expired in December 2023.
The sticking point for the union members in the bargaining was pay: Members felt the city’s proposed pay increases didn’t keep up with the cost of living in Bellingham.
But now, union leaders are happy with the compromise. President of the Local Jael Komac said she wasn’t able to share specific details of the tentative agreement yet, but said it’s clear to union leaders that Mayor Kim Lund has been listening.
“It was very obvious with some of the things that were put on the table with this last offer that she has been listening to our members, both in the public comment and in the materials and information that we’ve been sharing on our website,” Komac said Monday night.
City of Bellingham Deputy Administrator Janice Keller said city officials are “pleased” that the parties reached a tentative agreement.
“The city reprioritized resources to put more on the table and we have been striving to address equity concerns raised by members,” she wrote in a statement Monday night. “… We appreciate the progress made and look forward to continued collaboration with our union leaders to ensure City employees are supported in their work.”
Komac said the union did have to make some compromises on pay, but that the bargaining team is recommending a yes vote. The members will vote on the agreement on Sept. 11 and 12, and if it passes, it will go to the Bellingham City Council to be ratified on Sept. 16.
Komac said one of the biggest wins is that the city committed to completing a market study for the bargaining unit, which she said hasn’t been done in decades.
“We have employees working under job descriptions and classifications that in some cases are 30 years old,” she said.
The city issued a Request for Proposals for a consultant for a Job Classification Market Study on June 13, with proposals due July 30. A consultant has not yet been selected, according to the city’s website.
Komac said she appreciated the amount of work the city put into both bargaining and the work that will go into the market study. She said she hopes the members accept the tentative agreement.
“I really think that Mayor Lund, her leadership style, has really assisted the process this time,” she said. “I see a difference. I’ve been doing this for quite a few years and I see a difference.”
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
