SEATTLE — Washington State Ferries workers are expressing their frustrations with the system as passengers deal with delays and cancellations on a weekly basis.
According to WSF, 18 million people rode on ferries last year. They all hope to get on and off on time.
"It's really stressful, honestly, because sometimes you don't make it to work, and you really need to be at work," said Alexander Hales, a passenger taking the Walla Walla to work on Tuesday.
But who does the state call when there are delays or cancellations due to staffing or unplanned mechanical problems?
"You're not going to call Ghostbusters because we are the Ghostbusters that take care of these boats," said Phil Wolf, a longtime ferry worker. He's one of more than a dozen "lower deck" workers sounding off against the state, reminding their employer they do it all — tasked with repairs, maintenance, and other duties that keep these boats afloat.
"We're in charge of all that material,” said Wolf. “We have the most responsibility to keep these boats running, yet we're the lowest paid crew on the boat. It's not right and it needs to change."
The Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A) is here to do that. It's the union representing more than 400 of these workers and the bargaining process with the state is heating up.
"Right now, the crewing is done to the minimum levels required by the Coast Guard,” said Eric Winge, the M.E.B.A Washington Rep. “If anybody calls out sick or if there's a long-term absence and the employer can't backfill that position, then the boat cannot sail, so it's a recipe for a disaster."
According to the union, there were 3,500 sailing cancellations last year. The pay range for a lower deck worker is from $27 to $57 an hour, compared to upper deck workers, who get paid between $32 and nearly $70 an hour. The union said there's a 19% disparity between a chief engineer, the lower deck's highest-paid position, and the captain of the vessel.
"They're more visible,” said Winge. “The work they do is valuable. The work we do is just as valuable. We're just asking for equal pay."
And passengers are asking these workers to "Stay strong because we need you,” said Hales.
Bargaining is currently ongoing with the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) union, along with approximately 30 other groups of represented state workers. Because bargaining is ongoing, we are not able to comment on specifics, but we continue to have confidence in the bargaining process and that we will come to a successful resolution with the parties.
KING 5 reached out to WSF for comment. It referred KING 5 to the state’s Office of Financial Management, which sent a statement saying in part:
“The current bargaining started in the spring, and is for terms and conditions to be in place for the collective bargaining agreement which will be in effect from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027 (the current agreement runs through June 30, 2025.) The state will continue bargaining and the tentative agreements will be submitted to the OFM director by October 1, 2024. At that time, the OFM director must determine whether the agreements are financially feasible.”