Alaska ferry workers go on strike for first time in 42 years: 'We have tried and tried to work with the state'
Hundreds of Alaska ferry workers went on strike Wednesday, shutting down a transportation system that serves as a lifeline for rural communities in The Last Frontier.
Workers with Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific walked off moored ferries, the Anchorage Daily News reported, after negotiators failed to reach an agreement in a meeting with state officials.
Picketing began as ships arrived in ports, leading the state to give refunds to passengers who had not reached their final destination, the newspaper reported. The union represents about 430 workers in the Alaska Marine Highway System, which transports locals to neighboring cities and brings visitors to touristy towns that are not connected by roads.
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Contract discussions between the union – one of three representing the ferry workers – and state have gone on for over 2½ years, Administration Commissioner Kelly Tshibaka said. Talks of a potential strike raised concerns, including from state Rep. Louise Stutes of Kodiak.
“I hope they don’t because that will cripple many communities’ economies," Stutes told the Daily News before the announcement. "Juneau, Anchorage, the whole nine yards."
The last time the union's ferry system members went on strike, they picketed for 20 days in 1977 and shut down the marine highway, the Daily News reported.
While the state offered a 5% pay bump over three years, the Department of Administration said the union proposed a 9% increase over that time frame and asked for workers to choose their own ship assignments. The department said the requests would prevent the state from managing the marine highway as effectively as possible.
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“We have tried and tried to work with the state, but we’re just beating our heads against the wall,” Arnold told the Daily News, calling the strike a last resort.
The impasse comes amid financial troubles across the state, with Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoing more than $400 million in items in Alaska’s budget last month as oil revenues decline. He initially proposed slashing the marine highway's budget by $97 million.
Dunleavy approved funding for the ferry system passed by the Legislature, ensuring some level of transportation service in most communities through the spring of the 2020 fiscal year, according to budget documents.
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alaska ferry workers go on strike, halting marine highway service
