The Local 589 Teamsters Union recently received an increase to their standby pay and now have another floating holiday after Port of Port Townsend commissioners voted to approve a handful of changes to its contract with the union.

Port commissioners signed off on the new bargaining agreement in September, which affects 21 of the Port’s employees. The agreements include an increase from $1.50 per hour to $3 per hour for workers who are placed on standby; an additional holiday; and no changes to the pay schedule. 

According to the agreement, standby pay applies to employees required to be “duty ready standby” and have their movement restricted. 

Port officials noted that instances of the standby pay is used very rarely and reserved for incidents such as when a boat in distress may be coming into the port to be hauled out. 

When an employee is on standby they are required to be near the phone, not be impaired and remain in near proximity to work.

Officials said that maintaining the status quo for pay increases, “seems reasonable, particularly given the unique cost of living issues in [Port Townsend].” 

Already proposed as part of the Port’s budgeting process is a consumer price index adjustment to staff wages.