Investigators: Sweet deal in the San Juans for some ferry workers

jaimeretief said on June 21, 2010 at 11:04 PM

Touché Brother, looks like the dittohead/Susietards will be thrilled to know that Susie and King5 are now into reruns of this soggy sea story. Susie-and-the-Decepticons will feed the ignorant, unwashed masses all of the lies and pap she can dish-up. The troughs will run ripe with the predigested, maggot-ridden meat from this dead horse they've beaten to a pulp. Bon Appétit!

nicehatharry said on June 20, 2010 at 6:51 PM

Or during the summer when the new people are out driving for the first time on the ferry. That's always a good time, it's like frogger dodging cars all day. I and my fellow shipmates shouldn't have to apologize for taking the inititive for getting a state job. If you're all so jealous for what our contracts state we should receive maybe you should have applied. I just saw brand new hires come through doing their orientation. Guess there are still jobs out there

nicehatharry said on June 20, 2010 at 6:47 PM

The only thing to say is I'm sick of seeing the word "perks" used. The only perks for working at WSF are the gorgeous sunrises/sunsets. Why don't all you haters and jealous types go stand in the waiting line and put your name on the list to get hired, that is if you even get the phone call. Susie doesn't have all the facts and to say employees following their contract, which was approved by management, are criminals or abusing the system and the tax payers is BS. I'd like to see Susie and the others who think we have it so good working for WSF why not come down and work with some of us. Let others know how great it is when working 12 hour days plus the traveling to and from and don't forget trying to put in quality family time or quality sleep which is big with the USCG. When your finished with the 12 hours go find a crew that works 10 days in a row, 9 hour days plus traveling plus family plus sleeping. For fun lets do this during the winter when it's below freezing.

framed said on June 17, 2010 at 7:14 PM

You know what I think is a sweet deal? That Susannah frame would find that it was appropriate to interview Ed Sutton of the local FAC regarding his perspective of ethics and values. If you will remember Ed was censured at the same time Macleod was fired from the FAC for violating the public meetings act and in Eds case for using foul language toward the county council members trying to enforce the law. Frankly the relationship between MacLeod, Sutton, the Times editorial writers supporting susannah and Susannah herself make me see a story contrived by an agenda. Now we hear that MacLeod is filing requests for WSF employee pay records under the public records act, a device that seems alien to his own history of secrecy with public records. And then of course there is Ed Sutton again, bypassing the ferry line and loading aboard WSF vessels against the direction of the crews and ahead of his fellow Islanders. I see alot of black pots out there calling the kettle...

hubert1 said on June 15, 2010 at 8:22 PM

jaimeretief: I think you are on the right track. \Human resources should investigate how much these positions truly do earn industry-wide with regard to 24/7 calls, average work week (not as what is overtime or hours not weekday 8-5), duties, distance from home and other perameters then determine an equivalent correct base pay then eliminate all perks--simplify the whole matter. People in positions of any time, any day, ie doctors, get paid a monthly rate regardless when worked and hours worked that month and that's just how it is. Time has long passed to identify what is the real value of the should be flat pay, salary positions and remove this herd of greased pigs called perks running amuck in the payroll budget. Contracts usually have clauses that determine when a contract can be renegotiated at any time vs sitting on management's hands, waiting. Waiting for current contracts to expire is ubsurd. The union will become relevant again when wakes to the real world around it.

jaimeretief said on June 14, 2010 at 4:15 PM

So rippedoff, are you advocating to eliminate the overtime and have the state negotiate a "salary" that is in line with the average industry pay for engineers and oilers? 81K is less than most oilers make in the industry. Second Assistant Engineers make that much in 90-days. Considering that their average pay, including travel time, mileage, overtime, etc., is taken into account during contract negotiations, your idea that they shouldn't receive anything, other than their base pay, would effectively be a pay cut. Fine, let's eliminate all of the travel, OT, etc. and pay the Chiefs 150K, Assistants 115K, and Oilers 90K and be done with this. Those numbers are below the rest of the industry and how do you like them?

framed said on June 14, 2010 at 6:44 AM

You have sceen her say that there was no investigation into pay padding when there was. You have seen her say that a person doing volunteer work might have been on the company time but could not prove it. You have seen her say that employees sued by other employees somehow owed the state of Washington for the costs. You have seen her say that employees following the contract, whose time sheets are reviewd by managers every two weeks were unethical. You have seen her play only a few brief snipets from many hours of interviews by WSF executives because their statements did not support her conclusion. You have seen them play "guilty man walking" video like it was relevent to the facts of a case. You have seen her pick on the SCE of the Evergreen State for 2007 even though he was actually serving as the SCE of two vessels that year. She has said alot that misrepresents each of the individual stories she has portrayed as unethical. If the public is ignorant you can blame frame.

rippedoff said on June 13, 2010 at 7:09 AM

framed. Perhaps vendors was not the best term. point being, there were others from off the boat that assisted in the repair. Your other points sounds like one doing the job for which they are paid. Since related reports by SF are of perks paid beyond what the employee would normally be paid, are you suggesting the switches that were changed out, may have not been without the perks. It sounds like the employee did their job. It sounds like a professional, but does that justify a perk that pays more than base pay. I do not feel one getting paid overtime to do a emergency repaid being waste, but then again, coming in to work when on vacation, and being paid to travel to and from work everyday is what the reports about. I have not seen one thing in SF reports that says employees do not do their jobs. Her reports are about money waste, not performance. Those receiving the perks will write to justify, most citizens will side with SF, and see them as waste.

surfer4m said on June 13, 2010 at 12:45 AM

Ed Sutton member of the ferry advisory committee said “who is watching over this thing for us taxpayers?” is 2 years PAST DUE on his property taxes on Orcas island. Not quite a taxpayer. He has also been reprimanded for ferry line jumping. Public record.

hubert1 said on June 12, 2010 at 10:01 PM

The employee commuting Anacortes-Everett may be worth $180K--problem is how the income is being presented. If everything he does are special projects, then he has no special projects--that's his routine job, regardless of the hour he performs his job. Salaried people routinely work 50 hours/week--purpose why salaried. Perks are to supplement main pay so when main pay only 44% of total pay (81K base/183K 2009 total pay) it's fowl. Appears personnel office really bungled the pay review process and add to the problem by grossly understating base pay. Better to correct salary to $160K plus strong defense requirement for $20K as perks. With taxpayers not paid to commute, using taxes to pay someone what others must pay alone really burns. Last, if perks are not taxable and his taxable pay is grossly understated, IRS may not like this understating tax liabilities on what really is ordinary income and understating payroll expenses on ferry budget will not a happy governor make.

rightwingliberal said on June 11, 2010 at 12:02 AM

Yo 'framed' you know that the general population isn't concerned with the technical aspects of working below decks. Susanna Frame could care less that we work 24 hours a day 365 days a year. As shift workers we make huge sacrifices for our job that she has no interest in. Has she worked a 12 hour night shift and had to dead head to work an addition 3 to 4 hours. No! has she had to rebuild sewage pumps at 3:00 am? Does she know that people that work nights have a HIGER RATES of CANCER? No! Does she know what it takes to get an MMD or a TWIC or anything about what it takes to be a Marine Engineer? No! Does she care? Hell no! She is in it for herself just like everyone else from Hammond on down. What Susanna Frame should consider is that her stories are ultimately going to cause people allot of pain. This is a one sided attack on And the MEBA needs to wake the hell up and start standing up for their membership! By the way the engineer on the BP oil rig didn't have a MMD.

framed said on June 10, 2010 at 9:19 PM

Well ripped off you would be disappointed, no outside vendors were involved in the repair. SCE, crew and state workers only. SCE's job is to decide, direct, inspect. It is he who puts his license on the line, not the manager, not the workers, not a vendor. He is solely responsible for the success or failure of the repair. Interestingly, his decision years ago to remove the main engine high water temperature shut down switches (not required by regulations) saved the Wenatchee and Pier 52 from major damage yesterday. Had the switches been in place and functioned to shut down the engines when they first started getting hot on the approach to Pier 52, the ship would not have been able to stop. The ship would have struck the dock because all three running engines would have shut down and could not have been re-started before hitting the dock. Instead it was virtually a non-event safety, no shipyards, vendors or ambulances. It was the belly landing I spoke of last night.

rippedoff said on June 10, 2010 at 7:55 PM

Past knowledge tells me, these perks were not put in place by those in management now. The reports have me believing these perks have been around for a long time. Staff Cheif repairs the Wenatchee? In my expierience I would bet outside venders were brought in to do the heavy work while the Staff Cheif waited to test it after the repair. I read each blog after one of Susannah's reports airs, that managers should be fired. Having past affiliation with a state union, those truely responsible for what the unions get are the Governor and Legislature. They hold the power to truley change things. I would bet the managers work hard at trying to reduce costs, only to have their hard work vetoed at the direction of the Governor or her people.. The unions get upset because it affects their members perk pay, their lobbyist runs to the Governors office and someone says back off, or a deal is cut behind closed doors, then they hide while middle managers are bashed. Put the blame where it belongs.

ethicscount said on June 10, 2010 at 11:09 AM

Framed - that's his job...

framed said on June 10, 2010 at 4:48 AM

Framed is as scented as her quarry.

oldguy said on June 9, 2010 at 8:33 PM

“Framed” are you saying that State Ferries Director David Moseley has "an absolute deficit of knowledge regarding how WSF functions at virtually any level"? Making emphatic declarations of how he will close the barn doors after the horses have broken out does sound like a flimsy and embarrassed response lacking in knowledge of the way his department functions, don't you think? One wonders how such incompetent department heads get their jobs. It smacks of payback figurehead position appointments based on political connections rather than knowledge and ability. Such appointees are bound to be more interested in making profound pronouncements to cover up their ineptness which is the inevitable result of their “real assignment” being to spend their energies benefiting the appointer instead of tending to the business of the appointment. Susannah Frame got the scent and like a good hound dog treed the game.

framed said on June 9, 2010 at 7:15 PM

By the way, one of the most vilified of the framed Staff Chiefs has repaired the Wenatchee and it is back in service.

framed said on June 9, 2010 at 7:12 PM

The responses were not borne from embarassment over pants position but over an absolute deficit of knowledge regarding how WSF functions at virtually any level. These issues would have been easy to discuss if the representative were versed in the issues and technologies involved.

oldguy said on June 9, 2010 at 6:17 PM

Susannah got some pretty embarrassed responses from those caught with their pants down. All of a sudden they want everyone to report abuses to them. Who do they think they are kidding? Let's hope this doesn't result in an effort to privatize the ferries. Privatization just lets different people plunder the public treasury with greater secrecy like the Bush Administration did. At least with public ownership, the public has an opportunity to get things made right. Not much can be done when corporations are in charge. Look what BP was getting away with.

fcunning said on June 9, 2010 at 6:02 PM

It does seem like stories like this are always showing how bad state workers are. I am tired of this! There are more hard working state workers than there are bad ones. Why are there no stories about them? The ones that have to keep taking on more and more work because the state has to keep cutting dollars. I was one of those employees that have now been cut, which now means the people left at the office have had to take on not only my regular work, but all the extra work I had been doing. Lets see the other side of these stories, you know, like FAIR reporting should do!

jaimeretief said on June 9, 2010 at 5:36 PM

"Last week they terminated the lease on the condo, which will save the state about $18,000 a year." Wow 18K savings! Shall we spend it all in one place? While we're on the subject of money are all of you aware of the fact that the Ferry System is 80% funded from the fare box? Metro Transit apparently pays many of their senior drivers 100K. 100K? For driving a bus? What does that take, a 3-week CDL school they found on the inside of a matchbook cover? How much of Metro is funded out of the fare box? I understand it's less than 20%! Doesn't that make the Washington State Ferries an absolute success story? How many public transit systems 80% funded from the fares? If it ain't broke, don't mess with it.

framed said on June 9, 2010 at 4:47 PM

Let me add this observation, as we speak, the most heavily utilized route in the fleet is down a boat because the most reliable ship in the fleet has experienced a casualty. The first in a decade. The person fixing it is another framing victim. Like the Staff Chief of the ES, he is a veteran, an expert in digital controls and is very successful at what he does. His value is not for what he does each day but the reliability he ensures with his vision and his competency. He is like a competent pilot, you pay for boredom and the occasional well executed belly landing.

jwiley said on June 9, 2010 at 4:41 PM

The state auditor has been touting performance audits for years. Did he do any on the Ferry System? The legislature has insisted that its in-house performance audits have been enough for them. Has the legislature done any performance audits on the Ferry System.

bobhellbringer said on June 9, 2010 at 3:01 PM

bpg131313, Based on the tone of the story, it's hard not to see some sort of vendetta. Investigative journalism should include professional writing and reporting, not statements like "But KING-TV has discovered this jewel is more like a treasure chest for members of one boat’s engine room-the ferry Evergreen State." It smacks of editorialism and is unprofessional. That said, the cost of ferry travel is clearly pricey and it's good that somebody is looking at it outside the system. I really do feel for those who depend on it. That said, I have to imagine that these vessels are ridiculously expensive to run, regardless of employee compensation. Marine diesel alone is closer to $4 than $3, even with volume discounts. Custom vessels with custom parts are expensive. The ferries probably rack up more hours than 95% boats in the world, leading to high maintenance costs. How do subsidies compare to the road and bus systems? I bet the ferries (and the users) shoulder a lot more.

pawney said on June 9, 2010 at 2:52 PM

And BPG, go away already.

pawney said on June 9, 2010 at 2:50 PM

I agree Dede, i have no problem with perks either, in fact i am probably over paid myself, but to keep asking for more taxes from us to keep the ferry's running is crazy. Im sure they are using these rental houses and Condo's for summer cabin's too, just think of the savings there.

dede1978 said on June 9, 2010 at 2:00 PM

To all you who keep defending the "perks" these employees are getting just don't get it. The way I read the article above in reference to travel reimbursement indicates that their home terminal is in Anacortes, but the work is being done in Friday Harbor. If they change the home terminal to Friday Harbor, where the work is being done, then that eliminates the travel pay. They are not suggesting changing where the work is being done, but where the home terminal is. I don't have a problem with someone making more money than me or getting a little extra, but come on, an additional $700,000 in overtime pay and travel reimbursement along with the other benefits that come with any job seems a little excessive, especially at a time when we are all being asked to take a little less, are losing our jobs or paying more taxes.

framed said on June 9, 2010 at 1:36 PM

I suppose so, the last time they changed a control system on this class it cost two years of planning, 4 months out of service and 16 million dollars. That was ten years ago, when they had a design staff that could plan and supervise complex electrical engineering tasks. They are all gone now, eliminated to save money.

bpg131313 said on June 9, 2010 at 1:31 PM

While I applaud the efforts made by King5 regarding the fraud, waste, and abuse associated with certain parts of Washington State Ferries, I would like to point out that they are by no means the sole problem in Washington. There are plenty of big fish in the pond to bring into the light, but King5 seems to be focusing specifically on Washington State Ferries. This smells like a vendetta to me. Until I see waste stories regarding other Washington State agencies, I'll stand by my statement. These stories are valid, but are likely focused by someone who has a vendetta with the ferries. Go ahead King5, prove me wrong. You haven't so far.

pawney said on June 9, 2010 at 12:33 PM

Way to go robogirl, nice homework!!! And Framed, i can see your concernes, however, with all of the money that the WSF will be saving i would think that some of it can go towards upgrades on the "Beast". Sounds fair to me.

framed said on June 9, 2010 at 11:24 AM

Moving the home port to Friday Harbor will make the Evergreen State the most unreliable ship in the fleet, over night. Her experienced engineers will use their seniority to go to other ships to avoid the 15 hour days. The ES will then get the lowest experienced engineers in the fleet and will suffer from constant crew turn over. This will be trouble because the ES has the only electronic controls of this type on any ship. WSF removed them from every other ship for reliability problems. Now, there are only 3 or 4 engineers who can troubleshoot it to a board level, one is retired. The ES also has the only two Stork engines in the United States, (low bid) they take time to get to know. She also uses World War II surplus reduction gears and drive motors (came out of a Nazi hunting destroyer escort). This equipment is tired. With the ES being homeported in FH there is no hope of getting help to the ES in a timely manner. The young guys are going to have trouble with this beast.

robigirl11147046 said on June 9, 2010 at 11:22 AM

Ummmm, that $700K appears to be the amount he paid for his home located at 14132 Madrona Drive, Anacortes, WA 98221. I wish taxpayers of Washington State would pay for my home. Check it out, it's public record.

kbbcoop said on June 9, 2010 at 11:21 AM

Kids shouldnt be eating at McDonalds and texting at schools either, so whats your point? Adults shouldnt be smoking and drinking, but those adults that do pay a disproportionate amount of taxes supporting this nonsense. Its called SIN TAXES, which was my original point.

clear2copy said on June 9, 2010 at 10:08 AM

kids shouldn't drink chocolate milk..neither should adults for that matter.

kbbcoop said on June 9, 2010 at 9:57 AM

Oh my gosh, we better raise the rates some more, and lets include another tax somewhere, how about chocolate milk for the kids.

rmo70 said on June 9, 2010 at 9:50 AM

The ferry system can't change things right away, as the contracts and contractural language is still in place. The contracts will have to be re-negotiated with the unions, then changes may take place. From the information I have, if staying at one of the sleep facilities provided by the employer, then travel time and mileage are not paid and per diem rates may be inititiated instead. It depends on the reason for not being able to get home. Per diem would also include meals, which wouldn't be included with the travel time and mileage. This is all the information I could attain, but seems to be the case.

rmo70 said on June 9, 2010 at 9:13 AM

Contracts will be in place until either re-negotiated or expiring, and then re-negotiated. That's why no immediate change. I wouldn't have any reliable information on the living quarters or meals other than what is available through per diem by various companies. It is my understanding that if using the rented facilities, the travel time is foregone and the per diem would be in force. All of this would depend on the conditions for staying in a rented facility, maybe like a boat that is docked for emergency repairs, or other unforseen problems in getting workers home.

wawolf said on June 9, 2010 at 8:55 AM

No doubt highly skilled engineers should be paid accordingly, but I don't think they need two residences and 3.5 hours of paid travel time. The state is in a budget crisis. Time to streamline benefits for these workers, just like most companies are doing in the private sector. BTW if K5 has uncovered all this previous waste, why didn't the ferry system find this out via their own investigation and stop it before K5 reported on it. I say have an external auditor do the investigation and fire people were appropriate.

tracksider said on June 9, 2010 at 8:29 AM

Big thanks to King5 for finding this kind of waste!

rmo70 said on June 9, 2010 at 8:24 AM

Remember how much the garbage haulers make? Must have a great education to do that work? Dangerous? Many jobs have a level of danger. The rest of the industry is APL, Maersk, Various Tanker Companies, Alaska State Marine Highways, New York Ferry System, Foss Tug and Barge, and countless other shipping companies. Some pay more, some less, but all pay good wages for the expertise of their engineers and engine room crews. That would be some of the rest of the industry!

tugthug said on June 9, 2010 at 7:56 AM

The rest of the industry? What industry. Washington State has the largest ferrie sytem in the US. If you include medical, dental, pension etc that adds up to a pretty good annual salary. As far as the commute the goes it's part of the job and if you don't like it find something else to do! I say again start firing people!

rkdub2 said on June 9, 2010 at 7:23 AM

These people took advantage a program that was offered to them. This should be considered part of their normal pay. I am not a proponent of unions and I don't see anything wrong with this. If you don't like it take money away from families. That's the mentality. Tax payers sure. All across the country. The feds pay a large portion of this I'm sure. More socialist movements to spread out the wealth......back to the top.

jaimeretief said on June 9, 2010 at 6:56 AM

Susannah is deceiving you all. No engineer would pull his shift, including a 3½ hour plus commute, for a base pay of $81K. Do you all believe that these engineers should work for half the pay of the rest of the industry ($150K ) just because they're employed by the state? Get real. This isn't criminal and it isn't waste just because you're jealous over someone choosing a different career path. This is what it costs to crew vessels with United States Coast Guard credentialed officers. Air Traffic Controllers make over $100K. Maybe the FAA should fire all of them and replace them with people that are willing to work for $30K? I recommend you purchase a parachute if they do.

scarter1964 said on June 9, 2010 at 6:49 AM

Okay, once again from the top........WHERE ARE THE ARREST, AND WHY ARE THEY STILL EMPLOYED? Does the Gov., or the State Attorney General. These guys are millionaires off of the taxpayers. I WANT THEM ARRESTED AND FIRED! ASAP! Come on people let's get it together.

arcticfireguy said on June 9, 2010 at 6:17 AM

Gottah' luv' them Unions now don't yah'? Yes sir they are stick'n it to the Man! Shame that it turns out WE are the "Man"....... :)

tugthug said on June 9, 2010 at 5:58 AM

They need to start terminating Managers and quit talking about! Clean house I say. Long overdue!

rmo70 said on June 9, 2010 at 5:49 AM

Most of what you're reading is contractural in nature. Marine workers make a good salary wherever they work. This is the price of doing business on the water, state funded or not. The engineers on the WSF vessels are highly educated and work hard to maintain that edge with all the new technology in use on those vessels. There is a long educational process involved in the marine industry, and a good wage is the result. The poor hours worked and holidays away from home are another disadvantage as well. Before emotion takes over here, people should look at the whole picture before condemning these workers. It's your ferry system, but the boats make all their trips for several reasons.

lucyred said on June 9, 2010 at 5:48 AM

Thank You Suzannah!! keep it going . . . .

maynerdgkrebbs said on June 9, 2010 at 5:40 AM

I thank Evergreen freedom Foundation for bringing all these items to King 5 attention. I passed out flyers for EFF long before KING5 got involved. But I thank KING5 for picking up the ball.

hubert1 said on June 9, 2010 at 5:21 AM

Living on San Juan Island, soon it will be 75.00 to get home in the summer, I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for King5 efforts. When you finish this investigation, I am looking forward to seeing the total of waste you have found. I wrote David Moseley a few weeks ago and he said he has created a quarterly report that lists people who have more than 5% income above their base pay. Let's see if the report exists and if he uses it. I look forward for the investigators to see if the ferry union ways and rules help feed the ferry mess King5 is exposing. No brainer--Evergreen State crew either moves to Friday Harbor or quit: No employer would pay me 3.5 hours to drive to work; why is state paying them? Rediculous! If this continues after this exposure, charge them for misappropriation of government funds--and the person overseeing this, too. Not fired: Jailed, all of them.

logic14 said on June 9, 2010 at 3:16 AM

They also hold up the Bremerton ferry in the evening when the human resources head, i don't remember her name, is late for the ferry. She works in downtown Seattle and commutes to Bremerton.

raincity1979 said on June 8, 2010 at 10:18 PM

San Juan ferry rates have risen to astronomical levels over the last 10 years, while ferry service has sunk to new lows (late ferries, rude workers, horrible schedules). Thank you, King 5, for exposing yet another example of blatant government waste at taxpayer expense. Hopefully your story will help keep a lid on these obscene ferry rates and insititute some accountablity within this crooked system.