From Washington State Ferries:
Due to lack of crew, the final sailing for the #2 Cathlamet will be the 5:55 p.m. Fauntleroy to Vashon departure. The #1 Kittitas will remain on the #1 boat schedule for the remainder of the night.
If that changes, WSF will update here.
This had been happening for decades. I’m 72 and have lived on Vashon and also visited all my life. I went to Vashon Elementary for first grade in 1957. The price you pay to live there.
Yes issues with the fairy happen but firing a bunch of people causing chronically low staffing and not having great hiring practices or work environment in a critical industry goes way beyond that. They’ve been promising for around a year now that in just a few more months they’ll have three boat service restored to Fauntleroy and we’re coming up on summer They need to get it together
With the number of different sectors still crying “staff shortages” you’d think they’d do some introspection and realize it may just be something they doing wrong or not offering…
Washington late ferries!! They are never at fault for anything it is always passengers fault.
It was my understanding when they hire new people on you don’t get to pick the routes or areas that you work. You could live in Seattle and they might tell you you need to work up in the San juans for your full shift and then drive home after that. I think they’ve got to find a better systemAnd agree or disagree with it they also have had a problem in the last decade with employees quitting because of certain policies and even people retiring They also fired a lot of people that wouldn’t get vaccinated (Not meant to start a debate for or against Just pointing it out)
You nailed it. I looked into work with the ferry system a couple years back. If I could choose to work the triangle route I may well have pursued it, but two hour on call response to anywhere in the system isn’t even possible, let alone reasonable. Add in that the hours are sporadic and non guaranteed until you have probably a couple years in and gain some seniority, and it’s no surprise they have trouble attracting workers.
Just noticed the boat left Fauntleroy only half full with 40 cars still up the road waiting. WSF needs to solve this issue ! If it was a business the ticket taker (who you are paying anyway) would get off his or her tail and go up the road selling tickets so they can roll through the booth quickly (which is the issue if you are not familiar with the process).
Not that easy, Don.
There are a mix of cars Southworth and Vashon in the long lines off the dock.
The dock is divided with Vashon two lanes and Southworth two lanes. Either side can fill to the point of blocking the toll booth and ferry dock access.
So having the ticket agents walk up Fauntleroy would do nothing but endanger all those involved, since the backed up cars are not able to access the dock.
Dock crowding is exacerbated by cars leaving large spaces in front of them when on the dock, similar to the weird I-phone practice of drivers at stop lights leaving a big space to the car in front.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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