‘This is not the right way to solve these problems’: Ferguson expects ferry service to resume tomorrow due to engineer’s apparent sick leave

Chaos gripped Washington State Ferries (WSF) Monday morning, with major ferry routes canceled and thousands of passengers stranded amid what appears to be a widespread sick leave by ferry engineers.

Dockworkers told KIRO Newsradio that the cancellations came from engineers complaining about illness while demanding higher wages. The FSM has not confirmed that these absences were part of a coordinated illness.

A spokesperson said 23 engineers called in sick and their replacements refused to show up for work.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson released a statement on the ferry cancellations, emphasizing that he was in talks with the union and calling for every vessel to be fully operational by Tuesday morning.

“As a regular passenger on our state ferries, I know how important our ferry service is to Washingtonians,” Ferguson said. “Restoring our ferry service has been one of my top priorities since taking office, and we have made significant progress on this front, thanks in large part to the efforts of our workers. I met with local and national MEBA union leaders this morning. They shared their perspectives on the challenges facing their members.

“As always, my door remains open to discuss these issues and I remain committed to improving staffing levels,” he added. “That said, causing significant harm and inconvenience to the people of Washington State is not the way to resolve these issues. I was very direct in our meeting: I expect every ship on every route to be fully operational no later than the first ship departs tomorrow morning.”

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) told KIRO Newsradio reporter Chris Sullivan on Sunday that employees have the right to take sick leave and the agency honors those absences when workers cannot make it. When crew members called, the WSF said it was working to find qualified rescuers so the crossings could be completed safely.

The conflict comes as the contract covering about 400 ferry engineers has expired and negotiations with the state continue.

Engineers are demanding a 20% pay rise, which would bring their salaries closer to those of workers who work on ferry decks.

Engineers keep ships’ engines and other critical mechanical systems running, allowing ferries to move passengers and vehicles safely.

The engineers’ union is legally prohibited from striking, meaning a coordinated walkout would not constitute a legal strike.

Last week, when KIRO Newsradio asked the union about the increase in cancellations and concerns about crew shortages, a union spokesperson said, “We’re hearing this for the first time and we’re looking into it.” »

The union warned in June that staffing levels were already limited and could lead to a less reliable ferry service and more canceled crossings.

Vashon Pharmacy Workers Turn to Small Boats Amid Ferry Closure

Pharmacists and other pharmacy workers were forced to find friends with small boats to bring them to work on Vashon Island, ensuring that prescriptions could still be filled.

Chris works at the pharmacy and said the ferry closure puts additional pressure on the island’s ability to provide essential services.

“If there’s no pharmacist on duty, the pharmacy can’t open, so we were lucky to be able to get here today, but if the boats keep going down, it’s difficult,” he said.

However, not all workers were able to get transportation, meaning they were not vaccinated against shingles, COVID-19 or the flu.

“It’s difficult because there aren’t enough staff,” Chris said. “I can’t really do much, like we had to cancel all the vaccine appointments.”

Spare keys keep Vashon repair shop open as ferry disruptions delay parts

Meanwhile, a spare set of keys helped keep Engels Repair and Towing on Vashon Island open during the ferry disruptions, but parts deliveries from Seattle were delayed.

Paul Engels, who runs and works in the family business, said he was stuck in Tacoma. A colleague had his keys and opened the store.

“It’s disrupted the parts deliveries because these are coming from Seattle and these boats are not working at all,” Engels told KIRO Newsradio. “So the guys that are on the job right now are kind of empty-handed with the parts that they need.”

The business has been in his family for 75 years and he’s seen this kind of thing before.

“It happens over the years, with delays with boats, or boats stopped, or boats broken down,” Engels said. “So you deal with it. Things will get back to normal soon enough.”

Engels was waiting at Point Defiance for a ferry to Vashon Island. Early Monday afternoon, there were about six cars in front of him.

“You can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

Itinerary Seattle – Bainbridge

October 5: Route out of service after 5:30 hours of navigation from Seattle to Bainbridge Island.

Due to crew shortages, the route will be out of service after the Puyallup departs at 5:30 a.m. from Seattle. Updates will be provided as conditions change.

Itinerary Seattle – Bremerton

October 5: Service reduced to one boat due to lack of qualified crew.

Chimacum No. 2 is also out of service. Distribution efforts continue.

All #1 sailings will sail as planned. Customers may experience loading delays. This will cancel the following sailings: 6:20 a.m. Bremerton to Seattle, 7:35 a.m. Seattle to Bremerton, 8:45 a.m. Bremerton to Seattle, 10:00 a.m. Seattle to Bremerton, 11:10 a.m. Bremerton to Seattle, and 12:20 a.m. Seattle to Bremerton.

Route Mukilteo – Clinton

October 5: The Mukilteo-Clinton route is reduced to single-boat service until 7 a.m.

The Mukilteo/Clinton route will operate with one boat starting Monday, October 5, beginning at 5:05 a.m. from Mukilteo. This will cancel the 5:05 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. departures from Clinton, as well as the 5:35 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. departures from Mukilteo.

The route is expected to return to two-boat service with departures at 7 a.m. Updates will occur when more information becomes available.

Route Port Townsend – Coupeville

October 5: The service returned with a boat.

Driving directions Edmonds-Kingston

October 5: Crossings canceled due to lack of crew.

Due to a lack of crew, the Spokane will make the first two round trips then dock. The Walla Walla will make a round trip then dock. The route will be out of service after the 7:10 a.m. departure from Edmonds.

The following departures will take place: 5:30 a.m. and 6:25 a.m. from Kingston; 5:35 a.m., 6:15 a.m. and 7:10 a.m. from Edmonds.

Updates will be provided as conditions change.

Anacortes – San Juan Islands Route

October 5: Crossings canceled due to lack of crew. The Yakima No. 2 will be out of service at the start of the day due to lack of crew.

This cancels the following Vessel #2 sailings: 4:05 a.m. Anacortes to Friday Harbor, 5:40 a.m. Friday to Lopez and Anacortes, 6:25 a.m. Lopez to Anacortes and other Vessel #2 sailings.

Chelan No. 1 may be out of service early in the day, canceling: 5:30 Anacortes to Orcas, 6:50 Orcas to Shaw, 7:05 Shaw to Lopez and 7:35 Lopez to Anacortes and other sailings of Vessel No. 1.

Samish No. 3 will make all stops on the 6:15 hour journey from Anacortes to Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and Friday Harbor, to transport students and take the Interisland crew to Friday Harbor.

This cancels the following Tillikum Interisland Sailings No. 4: 6:05 a.m. Friday Harbor to Lopez, 6:50 a.m. Lopez to Shaw, 7:20 a.m. Shaw to Orcas, and 7:40 p.m. Orcas to Friday Harbor.

The Interisland vessel is scheduled to return to service with Friday Harbor at 8:45 a.m. to Orcas No. 4 Tillikum which will assist with Anacortes-Friday Harbor traffic.

New reservations and changes are blocked for Monday and no-show fees are waived. Reservation holders on canceled sailings will be accommodated on other departures on a first come, first served basis.

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