Modifies current law regarding Washington State Ferry System employees. This law limits collective bargaining agreements pertaining to compensation available to Ferry System employees. This act removes mandatory arbitration from the collective bargaining process for Ferry System employees, but allows for it upon mutual agreement between employees and management. This act prohibits Captains in the Ferry System from being in bargaining units subject to collective bargaining. This act abolishes the Marine Employees’ Commission and transfers its powers, duties, and functions to the Public Employment Relations Commission. This act also prohibits managers from being in the same bargaining unit with the employees they supervise. This act takes effect immediately.   Official Text and Analysis.

Removes provisions that prohibit certain items from being included in a ferry collective bargaining agreement; disallows ferry employees from receiving interest earned on retroactive compensation increases; eliminates interest arbitration procedures; prohibits certain ferry managers from belonging to the same bargaining unit as the employees they supervise; and, establishes captains as responsible for all activities aboard a vessel, and prohibit captains from being members of a bargaining unit. Instead of abolishing the MEC and transferring responsibilities associated with the MEC to the PERC, the MEC is merged with the PERC. The MEC must become an independent division within the PERC by December 31, 2011. The OFM is required to oversee the MEC into the PERC merger. Only direct costs of the MEC Commissioners may be transferred to the PERC. The JTC must meet and consult with the Governor to set parameters around collective bargaining. The PERC is required to coordinate with the Department of Transportation to provide the JTC with a report on implementation of the bill by December 31, 2011.