WA SB5059

Amends RCW 47.64.340 to clarify that ferry captains have ultimate authority and responsibility for vessels "under their command" rather than "in service," and changes their role from "supervising" to "directing" crew and from "managing" to "coordinating" vessel operations

Removes the "manager of" designation from the captain's role description while retaining their status as ultimate authority on the vessel

Allows ferry captains to vote by August 31, 2025 on whether to rejoin a combined masters, mates, and pilots bargaining unit, with certification effective July 1, 2026 if a majority approves

Requires collective bargaining negotiations for the 2027-2029 biennium to follow the combined unit structure if captains vote to rejoin, otherwise maintaining the separate captains-only bargaining unit

Removes prior restrictions that prohibited collective bargaining agreements from extending terms or containing provisions incompatible with the section