13 of 18 Washington ferries sidelined after workers call out sick
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Passengers exit a ferry on Bainbridge Island. Photo: Ron Buskirk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Most of the Washington State Ferries fleet was out of service Monday after engine-room workers called in sick, canceling sailings across the system, state officials said.
Why it matters: With 13 of the state's 18 ferries out of service, the disruptions left some routes at a standstill and upended commutes, appointments and other travel plans.
- The Seattle-Bainbridge, Edmonds-Kingston and Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth routes had no boats running Monday morning, while Seattle-Bremerton was down to one-boat service.
The latest: The ferry system expects to operate "more normal service" on Tuesday, officials said in a travel bulletin Monday evening.
Zoom in: Twenty-three engine-room workers called in sick Monday, Washington State Ferries posted on X.
- "Every employee qualified to fill those positions has declined to fill them and keep the ferries running," the agency added.
- The workers who called in sick or declined to fill the vacancies are represented by the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, according to WSF.
- Union officials didn't immediately reply to Axios' requests for comment Monday.
What they're saying: The union said in a statement that it didn't coordinate the mass sick calls, which it described as a "frantic call for help from an abused and frustrated group of highly-skilled and committed workers," the Washington State Standard reported.
- The union has previously argued that engine-room workers are underpaid compared with similar jobs and overworked because of staffing shortages.
- In June, the union said records showed the 25 engineers with the most overtime logged between 585 and more than 1,500 overtime hours annually.
The other side: WSF highlighted what some of the workers make, saying staff chief engineers have a base salary of $157,000 and can earn more than $350,000 with overtime.
- "We expect our employees to return to work as soon as possible," the agency said.
What's next: Customers should still check rider alerts before traveling Tuesday, as schedules could change "based on crew and vessel availability," ferry officials say.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include updated information from Washington State Ferries.