Missed ferry sailings are a summer staple

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

It’s a problem that, in the scope of things, is a mere drop in the vast waters of greater Puget Sound. But if you’re the one left high and dry, it’s still frustrating.

Pamela Sipe, of Clinton, commutes by ferry each weekday via Mukilteo. She typically catches the 5:05 a.m. sailing, the first of the day for the Tokitae.

Lately, though, she’s been hitting the road earlier to catch the 4:40 a.m. sailing on the Kittitas after getting emails three days in a row about the 5:05 being canceled “due to a shortage of Coast Guard documented crew.”

It’s a troubling pattern, Sipe said. “Is there a corrective action being implemented or is this just something we can expect from now on?”

Missed sailings are a perennial problem, and state leaders list them as a top priority, wrote Ian Sterling, a Washington State Ferries spokesman.

“Missed sailings due to crew shortages are hands down the most frustrating thing that we deal with at Ferries,” Sterling said. “While we’ve made great strides in the last year and a half in reducing the number, they still do occur more than we would like..”

http://www.heraldnet.com/news/missed-ferry-sailings-are-a-summer-staple/

[HassleCat]

1. Island Lifestyle

When I lived in Port Townsend, I knew many people who worked for the ferry system, but most of them didn't last long. It seemed to be a pretty good gig, but the idea of working at a steady job, showing up when required, etc. just doesn't fit with many peoples' ideas about life.

[Warpy]

2. Funny, I've always found that people quit jobs for the same reasons

meaning shitty working conditions, long hours, low pay, shitty benefits, and/or a psycho boss.

I'll bet a close examination of those jobs would turn up something besides employee laziness. And if laziness is a factor, maybe they should consider offering job sharing, enabling two or more people to work part time and enjoy the laziness the rest of the time.

[HassleCat]

3. My Port Townsend friends

Would consider any job to have bad working conditions, as long as they had to show up regularly and put in a full day.

[PearliePoo2]

6. Another reason people quit is it takes about 4 years to get a year-round full time job.

They lay off hundreds of people every winter when the sailing schedule goes bare bones and trips are reduced. A lot of people have to have year-round work so they find something else.

[yewberry]

7. Not really.

People might get laid off for the winter their first year, but generally not after that. They might not get permanent jobs for a couple of years, but they can get temporary (season-long) positions right off the bat. But yeah, there a lot of people who don't return from layoff because they find other work.

[PearliePoo2]

5. Another problem for WSF is finding people that are qualified!

You have to pass an initial drug test and then as an employee, pass random surprise drug AND alcohol tests. They come aboard and everyone gets tested from the engine room, deck and officers. Pot is legal in Washington but not allowed if you work for the ferries. This is a huge problem, finding people who don't "use".

[PearliePoo2]

4. The baby boomer work force is retiring at a dizzying rate!

Seventeen more people are retiring by summer's end. Sailings are cancelled because they just don't have the employees! WSF is begging employees to work overtime and work on their days off!

[yewberry]

8. This is absolutely true.

Last edited Mon Jul 18, 2016, 04:14 PM - Edit history (1)

It's going to very bad very soon. It's probably going to be worse amongst the engineers.

There's also another reason there aren't enough employees. Look at the size of the spring hire group.