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Ferry delays linger after Washington engine workers’ sick-out

Washington State Ferries said regular service largely resumed Tuesday after engine-room workers calling out sick disrupted sailings a day earlier. Some morning delays continued as crews faced mandatory rest limits and staffing gaps.

Ferry delays linger after Washington engine workers’ sick-out
SEATTLE — Washington State Ferries said its operations were mostly back to normal Tuesday, Oct. 6, after a sick-out by engine-room workers led to widespread cancellations the previous day. Some sailings were still delayed Tuesday morning because crews had been stretched thin and workers had to meet mandatory rest requirements, a ferry system spokesperson said. The staffing disruption also left some crew members out of position, while select routes already had planned reductions in early October. The union representing engine workers said Monday that workers were frustrated with state minimum-staffing requirements, which can lead to canceled sailings when required crew members are unavailable. A union spokesperson had no further update Tuesday. The disruption affected commuters and visitors at Seattle’s Colman Dock. Bremerton commuter Christine Emery said she hoped the workers’ action would prompt a response from state leaders, noting that it fell on a government business day at the start of the fiscal year. California visitor Kimberly Nava said the ferry delays meant her group, on its last day in town, would miss a planned trip on the water. A separate, previously scheduled closure will suspend the Edmonds/Kingston route from 7 p.m. Tuesday until about 10 a.m. Wednesday for railroad work. The work will block access to the Edmonds terminal and was planned before Monday’s cancellations.

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