POULSBO — Port of Poulsbo employees have unionized and are in labor-contract negotiations with the port district.

Port employees voted to unionize and join Teamsters Local 589 on June 2.

“The election was done and we were designated as their bargaining representative,” said Mark Fuller of Teamsters Local 589. “We are currently bargaining with the port.”

Fuller did not comment on the exact reason why employees felt the need to unionize.

“It was not a major issue that caused the employees to seek out our help,” he said.

Six port employees are included in the union. Approval of the unionization by Washington’s Public Employment Relations Commission states that all non-supervisory employees are to be included in the union. Port Manager Brad Miller is not among those represented.

This will make the fourth port district in Washington state that Teamsters Local 589 has taken on. The union also represents employees of the Port of Bremerton, Port of Port Townsend and the Port of Port Angeles.