David Moseley, Ferries Division Secretary for the Washington State Department on Transportation, announced on Sept. 4, “I am pleased that on Thursday evening we were able to achieve agreement with our union partners on new crewing schedules that comply with the U.S. Coast Guard requirement to discontinue the use of touring watches except for the vessels that tie up in Friday Harbor.
“This agreement allows WSF to utilize alternative 10-hour watches, add service to the Point Defiance/Tahlequah route, and to make additional stops in the San Juan Islands. Just as importantly, this agreement has the potential of establishing the foundation for new and better crewing and sailing schedules for the future.
“I want to thank our union partners for working so diligently with us to achieve this agreement. We are going to do everything we can to implement the improved crewing schedules at the beginning of the fall schedule (September 27). Logistically that will be very difficult, but both WSF and the unions agreed that we are going to do everything in our joint powers to achieve that goal.”
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