r/sanjuanislands • u/CowdogThunder • 7d ago
Ferry workers calling in sick Thursday and Friday again
That’s the word on the street, heard at the orcas landing. Good luck if you’re trying to get off the islands
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u/CrustBlocc 6d ago
Friday is the word among engineering dept, I didn't hear any talk of Thursday but I know at least one chief planned to call out all week.
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u/Terrible-Peach7890 6d ago
Are you a crew member? Can you confirm if this is happening tomorrow? (We support you! Trying to figure out if we should cancel Interisland plans)
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u/CrustBlocc 6d ago
I work in the industry, 2 of my best friends are chief engineers. The plan as of today is a sick out tomorrow. I called to confirm before I wrote this comment, as I understand the extreme gravity that planning around such information can entail. I'll clarify for folks since it's bit unclear in the media; a chief engineer makes $16 an hour less than a captain. A captain is easier to replace than a chief engineer. The market will pay big diesel techs more than wsf and they'll get better and less hours for more pay. The current disparity threatens the entire system as we currently know it, and a switch to private management would mean both an increase in rates AND the complete elimination of some existing routes. The simple solution, is to pay engineering dept in line with the market, and abandon wasteful forays into things like electrification. Not that we shouldn't work towards an electric ferry system in the future, but currently not even the navy has the firefighting capacity to put out a battery fire on the scale of a hybrid wsf ship. Engineering has expressed concerns over this, pay and scheduling, and the systemic abuses that come with the illegality of work stoppage as part of normal union negotiations. This extreme level of callous disregard is an existential threat to the continued availability of the ferry system we all depend on. This effects me personally as I have residences on both sides of the sound. Riding the ferry for free doesn't help me if the boats don't run at all.
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u/Moist-Construction59 6d ago
Should work doubly hard towards automation, state can’t be held hostage by something like this. Bold move striking in this day and age.
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u/CrustBlocc 6d ago
My workload has increased under AI, because operators trusting AI tend to make egregious miscalculations about the capabilities of their equipment. Go ahead and let AI make your decisions, my ilk and I will clean up your mess. The water cares not for the folly of hubris; it consumes all that wavers, and it's appetite is insatiable.
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u/Moist-Construction59 6d ago
What are you, a coastie? You sound like a coastie.
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u/CrustBlocc 6d ago
No, I'm willing to work any hour of any day to avoid having a manager, supervisor, union, or co. LDO credentials don't force me to follow orders. Your assumption is incorrect. I'm just a highly motivated and skilled asshole.
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u/Terrible-Peach7890 5d ago
Well this was a false alarm and we cancelled important plans for nothing. That’s what I get for listening to some rando on Reddit I guess🙄
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u/Njoylaughs 7d ago
Cold , flu , Covid season.
Get better boys and girls. You sure could use a raise vs your employer trying to shame you.
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u/Glittering-Law9449 7d ago
Truly. I was sick most of last week and this week at least 3 coworkers are sick
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u/thesummerisgone 5d ago
So... looks like the ferries are running normally...
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u/CowdogThunder 5d ago
Word on the street doesn’t always pan out… which is a good thing in this case 👍
I just made the post in case anyone needed to form a plan B to get off for medical or other important stuff yesterday/today. I luckily have zero affiliation with wsf and it’s employees
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u/Decent-Length-2091 7d ago
That is quite a statement. Can you give me more information? The sickouts are illegal and very dangerous to the employees. Are you talking about a major WSF sickout?
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u/Terrible-Peach7890 7d ago
How is fighting for fare compensation “dangerous to employees”?
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u/Real_Papaya7314 6d ago
They might get fired and have to go work somewhere else that pays fair market rate.
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u/Yallarenuts69 18h ago
I respect the engineers and the work they do. But if any engineer does believe he or she can make more money and/or get better working conditions in other situations, then I think the remedy is to take that other job rather than using the extortionate and dishonest sick in to disrupt the lives of the people who depend on the ferry system for necessary travel.
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u/Cptrunner 7d ago
Sitting at Island Hoppin' Brewery and hearing the same.