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Seattle ratifies five-year collective bargaining agreement with IBEW Local 77 signal electricians
Summary
The council authorized a collective bargaining agreement between the city and IBEW Local 77 covering SDOT signal electricians. The five-year agreement (Jan. 2023'Jan. 2028) includes wage adjustments, benefits changes and estimated budget impacts announced by the sponsor.
Seattle City Council on Oct. 28 approved a five-year collective bargaining agreement between the city and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 77 covering 27 SDOT signal electricians.
Council President Sarah Nelson, presenting the agreement, said the contract would be retroactive to Jan. 2023 and run through Jan. 2028. Key terms outlined by the sponsor include an increase to the boot allowance by $12 to $325, alignment of vacation accrual with other coalition agreements, allowance for cash-out of 25% of unused sick leave upon retirement, and multi-year wage adjustments: a 5% Award/Adjustment Index (AWI) in 2023, 4.5% in 2024, a 2025 conversion to salary steps averaging an 8% increase, 2.7% in 2026, and 2027 adjustments of 1% plus CPI constrained between 1.5% and 3%.
Nelson said retroactive payments for 2023'2025 would be absorbed within SDOT's 2025 budget (estimated at $1,900,000) and that an incremental cost of about $1,300,000 in 2026 could be addressed through the 2026 midyear supplemental ordinance. A central staff memo detailing the fiscal impacts was distributed to council prior to the vote, Nelson noted.
The council voted by roll call and approved the agreement 9-0. The sponsor and supporters said the settlement clears a multiyear bargaining item and aligns the signal electrician classification with other city agreements.
Clarifying details: the agreement applies to SDOT signal electricians only (27 employees) and covers the period Jan. 2023-Jan. 2028. Estimated fiscal effects cited by the sponsor included $1.9 million in 2025 to absorb retroactive payments and approximately $1.3 million in incremental cost for 2026.
