Reported by San Juan Islander
America’s largest transportation labor federation, the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO (TTD), has named the need for competitive wages and full collective bargaining rights to resolve the Washington State Ferry crisis one of its six top national priorities. In a joint statement outlining policy goals for the next Congress and the incoming Trump Administration, the TTD urges Washington state officials to address the workforce issues driving unreliable ferry service. This was the only state level policy priority listed by this group of leading transportation trade unions.
Roland Rexha, Secretary Treasurer of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A): “We appreciate the support of the federation of Transportation Trades in calling on Washington state to fix our ferries by making overdue and needed investment in competitive wages for WSF engine room crew who are essential to operating, maintaining and repairing ferries. The lack of highly trained, essential engine room crew to run ferries each day is the number one reason for canceled ferry sailings, and low pay is the number one reason why the ferries are short staffed. Investing in competitive wages will help address the worsening engine room workforce shortage and restore reliable, on-time, service to passengers. It’s up to state legislators and Governor-elect Ferguson to right this ship.”