Marine Traffic

Friday, September 4, 2009

Ferries, Union Make Deal on 'Touring Watches' - KitsapSun

By Ed Friedrich
Friday, September 4, 2009



Washington State Ferries management and labor unions reached an agreement late Thursday that will allow less cumbersome schedules for deck crews while following the Coast Guard’s new safety rules.

Effective Sept. 30, the Coast Guard will prevent ferry deck crews from working more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period. That will put an end to touring watches, which allow deck hands to work two shifts of up to 16 total hours if they take at least a six-hour break in between — like eight hours on, eight off, eight on. Ferries that tie up at Friday Harbor are the only exceptions.

Touring watches enabled deck hands to work two shifts back-to-back and not have to travel home and back between each one. The Coast Guard feared that crews weren’t getting enough rest, but banning touring shifts could be even worse if they’re driving long distances.

The agreement was reached after a last-gasp marathon negotiating effort Thursday.

Thes agreement allows WSF to use 10-hour watches, add service to the Point Defiance-Tahlequah route and make more stops in the San Juan Islands.

“I want to thank our union partners for working so diligently with us to achieve this agreement,” said Washington State Ferries director David Moseley. “We are going to do everything we can to implement the improved crewing schedules at the beginning of the fall schedule (Sept. 27). Logistically that will be very difficult, but both WSF and the unions agreed that we are going to do everything in our joint powers to achieve that goal.”


Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/04/ferries-union-make-deal-on-touring-watches/#ixzz0QCrl3VVa


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