Washington State Ferries is facing a full-blown staffing crisis, with 23 engine room workers calling in sick and 13 of 18 vessels reportedly tied up at the dock.
State officials are pointing to engineer compensation, including claims that some Staff Chief Engineers can earn more than $350,000 a year. But that headline leaves out a major part of the story: mandatory overtime, chronic understaffing, canceled time off, and a growing shortage of licensed marine engineers.
In this episode of Left Coast News, we break down what it actually takes to earn those salaries, why Washington State Ferries is struggling to recruit and retain qualified engineers, how Coast Guard staffing requirements affect sailings, and why blaming the workers may be covering up years of management failures.
If Washington wants a reliable marine highway, the state has to confront the real problem: competitive wages, staffing, retention, and accountability.
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Washington Ferry MELTDOWN: 13 Boats Down as State Blames Overworked Engineers
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