Update on WSF crew negotiations with the state

Poor management and low pay are hobbling engine room workforce, resulting in canceled sailings, backlog of repairs and maintenance

||| FROM KRISTIN HYDE for MARINE ENGINEERS BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION |||

Seattle, WA –  Members of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A) Washington State Ferry workers bargaining team are taking the state’s offer of a pay scale 30% lower than deck crew to their members.  If members reject the offer, the parties will head for arbitration in two weeks.

A public petition signed by 1,000 community members and workers in just the last couple of days is asking Washington Governor Jay Inslee to direct agencies overseeing Washington State Ferry operations to provide competitive pay, critically needed to retain and recruit engine room crew, and to restore safe and reliable ferry service.

Roland Rexha, Secretary Treasurer of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A): “The state is refusing to address glaring pay inequities for Washington State Ferry engine room crew. They have no problem spending billions of taxpayer dollars on new terminals and electric ferry boats that won’t be in service for a decade, but ignore the obvious need to provide competitive wages for the crew they need to run ferries. Their offer would take these highly trained and experienced crew members backwards; it’s a slap in the face. Bargaining revealed the disrespect the state has for the essential crew responsible for operating, repairing and maintaining ferry vessels – jobs no one else is qualified to do. WSF Administrators have their head in the sand. A global shortage of marine engineers, one of the most expensive places to live and work in the country, an aging fleet of ferries falling further into disrepair – it’s a perfect storm for Washington State Ferries. Ferry riders deserve transportation that’s reliable and safe. Washington taxpayers deserve accountability. The state’s actions show they either don’t get it, or worse, knowingly don’t care.”

Eric Winge, Washington State Ferries representative for M.E.B.A said: “We need 21 boats, but we can’t even meet crew requirements for the 15 boats in service right now. Ferry cancellations are wreaking havoc on ferry dependent communities and businesses across the Puget Sound. By refusing to address low pay, the state is assuring our ferry system will slip deeper into failure. Half of our WSF engine room crew is up for retirement in 2027. Many are poised to quit right now for jobs where the pay is in line with their certification, skills and experience. The state’s refusal to address pay disparities will fuel our workforce implosion and will just lead to even more unreliable ferry service.”

Phillip Anderson, staff chief engineer on M/V Tillikum said: “We can’t keep going like this – working 100 hours of overtime a month, and having zero time with our families. It’s unsustainable and frankly, it threatens the safety of vessel operations. The public is angry and they have a right to be – but they may not understand that dependable ferry service depends on having highly trained marine engineers on every shift. We are 40-50 crew members short and we’ll never boost our numbers without competitive pay for this industry.”

Washington State Ferries is the largest passenger ferry system in America, a critical link in the Washington state transportation system. Ferry ridership is returning to pre-pandemic levels, but service is unreliable. In 2023, there were more than 3,500 canceled sailings, and service disruptions continue.