PORT ANGELES — Port of Port Angeles commissioners have approved a 1.5 percent raise for non-union employees and 1.6 percent for the unionized in 2014.
The commissioners met in regular session Monday.
Union-represented employees’ 2014 cost of living raise is based on the consumer public index, while nonunion pay is based on annual regional market studies commissioned by the port.
“This year, it’s really close,” said Holly Hairell, human resources manager.
The annual raise is not related to the port’s new market-based pay scale, which was implemented in September.
Interim Executive Director Ken O’Hollaren and Hairell will review each employee’s record and determine where he or she fits within the range, according to performance, experience, responsibility and market pressure.
“We want to recognize outstanding performance in a meaningful way,” Port Commissioner John Calhoun said.
The estimated cost of merit raises based on the new pay rates already has been built into the 2014 budget, Hairell said.
Employees whose 2013 pay rates were lower than the market rates when the change was implemented were immediately raised to the bottom of the new pay scale when the commissioners approved it in September.
The regional pay study, commissioned by the port, compared employee job descriptions and compensation with established job market surveys, plus 17 selected regional ports, public sector or nonprofit agencies and private businesses, said Matt Johnson of Johnson HR Consulting Inc., hired by the port to complete the study and make recommendations for changes.
The study found that the port’s benefits package was competitive but offered a lower pay range for many jobs compared with similar employers in the region.
About half of the port’s employees earned less than the new pay range plan.
Johnson’s team created a 19-level pay grade system with a range of pay based on the average, high and low pay of similar organizations in the region.
Under the system, the port’s executive director occupies pay grade 18, with a range of $112,370 to $152,030 per year.
The directors of engineering and finance are placed in pay grade 16 — $89,590 to $121,210 — and the director of business development is in pay grade 15 — $79,985 to $108,215 per year.
Executive assistants are designated at pay grade 10, making $47,898 to $64,803, while the full-time lead security guard is at pay grade 8, with a range of $39,610 to $53,590.
Full-time security guards at pay grade 6 make $32,725 to $44,275 per year.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
