Local 9 security workers at SeaTac reach new four-year agreement
With support and solidarity from Local 19, ILWU airport
workers win solid wage gains
Security workers at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, represented by
Local 9, reached a new four-year agreement with the Port of Seattle that saw strong wage gains for the workforce.
Local 9 represents approximately 170 security workers at SeaTac, where they screen airport employees, staff airfield access gates, provide airfield security, and train security workers in the bargaining unit. Local 9 also represents operations controllers who work in a communications hub that monitors airport and airfield security, airport trains, baggage, and airport maintenance.
The new agreement marks a successful resurgence of the local which fell into disarray several years ago. The International Executive Board, led by Local 19’s Dan McKisson and Local 22’s Dax Koho and with the assistance of Assistant
Organizing Director Jon Brier worked with a rank-and-file committee of Local 9 members to get the local back on its feet.
The local first organized SeaTac access controllers in 1992, and they reached an agreement with the Port of Seattle on their first contract at the beginning of 1993. The unit was expanded in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks and took on additional security duties.
Local 9 President Jimi Limric said that contract negotiations took about a year to complete.
“The negotiations were long and sometimes contentious, but it was very professional. There were no big shouting matches; we never got up and walked out, and I think we got a pretty substantial contract. I am proud of that.
The Local 9 negotiating committee members were Limric, Local 9 Vice President Terri Hislop, Local 9 Business Agent Tyler Galka, Al Jackson, and Tom Martin.
Limric said that the security screeners received a 10 percent pay increase for 2024 that will be paid retroactively, a 5 percent pay raise for 2025, and then 4 percent pay raises for 2026 and 2027. The aviation security and operations group also received a comparable wage package.
Other highlights of the new agreement include the creation of a new terminal operations specialist group that merges trainers and security leads, and a shortened-tier program that shortens the time that new hires advance to their full wage.
“We have a diverse workforce with immigrants from all over the world, including people who have fled conflict zones like Afghanistan and Iraq,” Limric said. “A lot of them are going to be making money like they’ve never even dreamed of making. Most of them are younger people and they have families. I’m proud of the fact
that we were able to win such a strong wage package for them.”
Limric also expressed his thanks and appreciation to Local 19 members
Herald Ugles and Dan McKisson for their assistance in the negotiations.
“I want to thank Local 19. The support and solidarity we’ve received from them has been invaluable. Local 19 gave us Herald for our negotiations, and it was a godsend. I have no experience being a lead negotiator on a contract. I’ve listened observed and been part of negotiations, but I’ve never really been a negotiator. I learned a ton of things from Herald, and I cannot express to you how in debt we are to his leadership. We could not have gotten this contract without him.”