Ferry service snarled across Puget Sound region amid engine worker sick out

Key Points:

• Washington State Ferries experienced major service disruptions Monday due to 23 engine room workers calling in sick, resulting in 13 of 18 boats being out of service and several key routes canceled, including Seattle-Bainbridge Island and Edmonds-Kingston.
• The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) union, representing the engine room workers, stated the sick-out was a "frantic cry for help" caused by understaffing, excessive overtime demands, and wage disparities compared to other maritime engineers.
• Governor Bob Ferguson emphasized the importance of ferry service to Washingtonians and demanded all vessels be fully operational by Tuesday morning, while expressing openness to discussions with the union to improve staffing levels.
• Ferry officials highlighted that U.S. Coast Guard staffing requirements forced cancellations when minimum crew levels were not met, and noted that engine room workers receive competitive salaries and benefits.
• The union criticized Washington State Ferries management for long-term staffing cuts and poor labor relations, arguing that the current system leads to worker exhaustion and service unreliability.