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Port commission authorizes negotiations with Metro Cruise for Pier 27 after debate over labor commitments
Summary
After staff recommended Metro Cruise Services as the highest‑scoring proposer for the Pier 27 cruise terminal, commissioners authorized negotiations to begin with Metro (resolution 13‑25). Public commenters and union leaders warned of unresolved labor disputes and urged stronger ILWU commitments during negotiation; commissioners emphasized labor peace as a negotiation priority.
Port staff presented the results of a competitive solicitation to operate and manage the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal (Pier 27). Staff said two proposals were received, Metro Cruise Services and Ports America, and that an evaluation panel ranked Metro highest (179.6 out of 200) with Ports America scoring 127.2. Staff recommended authorizing negotiations with Metro as the highest‑ranked proposer.
Staff described projected revenue impacts under a Metro management scenario: the Port currently receives roughly $180,000 per year from the current operation; if Metro assumes management, staff estimated approximately $1,000,000 per year in payments to the Port from operations and $4–5 million per year in Port revenue when adding cruise‑line fees and parking over the first five years (staff framed those as estimates dependent on cruise calls and parking utilization).
During public comment, Local 10 representatives (Ed Farris and others) urged the commission not to authorize negotiations immediately and said the union had not yet secured Metro’s clear commitment to ILWU jobs and jurisdictions; they asked for additional time (one month) to continue talks. Local 10 representatives reiterated concerns about past labor disputes with Metro and warned unresolved issues could lead to labor unrest that would harm cruise passengers’ experience.
Other industry commenters, including a maritime consultant representing long‑time cruise lines, supported Metro as a local operator and urged the Port to proceed with negotiations and finalize a management agreement to make Pier 27 operational in time for the 2014 cruise season. Commissioners stressed the importance of labor peace and urged Metro, the Port and union representatives to resolve outstanding matters during contract negotiations, noting that the current vote was to accept Metro as the qualified bidder and to authorize commencement of negotiations rather than to finalize a contract.
The commission voted to authorize staff to begin negotiations with Metro Cruise Services LLC; the motion passed and Resolution 13‑25 was approved. Staff said they would return with specific business terms for commission review and that LBE/local‑hire goals would be negotiated as part of the contract terms where appropriate.
