Washington State Ferry workers padding their paychecks: Making $170,000+ a year

[Argo]

http://www.king5.com/news/investiga...adding-ignored-by-state-ferries-93349864.html

This is one of the main problems I have with larger government - very little accountability.

The actual news broadcast had a lot more wasteful practices. The ferry workers were paid overtime for travel time between their home and the "home base" - a whooping 3.5 hours a day. So why not hire workers who live closer to home base?

All this while the ferry system is broke, and they're considering raising the fair. And oh yeah - the ferry workers are unionized...

 

[Infohawk]

The union is to blame. They don't need to be making that much. In this economy, fire them all.

Generally, for public employees, I think pay should be tied to average or below-average private compensation. When you're a public employee, you're getting extra benefits and job security so you should make less in return.

 

[Jhhnn]

http://www.king5.com/news/investiga...adding-ignored-by-state-ferries-93349864.html

This is one of the main problems I have with larger government - very little accountability.

The actual news broadcast had a lot more wasteful practices. The ferry workers were paid overtime for travel time between their home and the "home base" - a whooping 3.5 hours a day. So why not hire workers who live closer to home base?

All this while the ferry system is broke, and they're considering raising the fair. And oh yeah - the ferry workers are unionized...

The article didn't give the impression that the Union workers were padding their paychecks, but rather their supervisors-

He was one of five whistleblowers in 2002 who accused their engine room supervisors – staff chief engineers- of padding their own paychecks through a strategy of working unnecessary, self-assigned overtime.

Managerial types, in particular, get mighty vindictive when a mere grunt tries to get 'em kicked off the gravy train...

Not suprising for the usual union-bashers to have it wrong from the start...

 

[Argo]

The union is to blame. They don't need to be making that much. In this economy, fire them all.

Generally, for public employees, I think pay should be tied to average or below-average private compensation. When you're a public employee, you're getting extra benefits and job security so you should make less in return.

I don't really care much whether their paycheck is capped or anything like that. However, I'd love to see a public company be allowed to go bankrupt. No bailout - no anything. If you're in the red because you're paying your mechanic $170,000 then you either cut his pay or go under and let a private companies take over.

Things that we can do without (like ferries) should not be allowed to operate at the loss. If the ticket prices do not fully pay for the service then either raise them (and watch the outrage) or be allowed to fail.

Unfortunately, they'll probably just get a hand out from the state government.

 

[IGBT]

for further outrage go look up the budgets of the do nothing pencil whips at the fed EPA and CARB.

 

[Lanyap]

The article didn't give the impression that the Union workers were padding their paychecks, but rather their supervisors-



Managerial types, in particular, get mighty vindictive when a mere grunt tries to get 'em kicked off the gravy train...

Not suprising for the usual union-bashers to have it wrong from the start...

It looks like staff chief engineers are union according to some of the articles linked from OP's link.

KING 5 found 12 of the 21 staff chief engineers have collected that costly triple time in the last three years.

How'd that happen? They were called in off their vacations to go to the maintenance yard with their boats to make sure everything goes by the book.

But there's nothing in a union contract saying the staff chief engineer has to scrap vacation plans and come in on triple pay because of repairs or maintenance work. That's just the way it's always been done at the Washington State Ferries. Management has chosen this option despite the fact that each boat has a well-qualified alternate staff chief who could do the work for straight time.

Here's an example: The staff chief engineer of the ferry Puyallup - Mark Nitchman - put in for and received 60 hours of vacation in November 2008. At the same time, his boat was set for pre-scheduled maintenance for the entire month. And because staff chief engineers have always gone with their boat to dry dock, Nitchman was called off his vacation and made triple time for the inconvenience.

http://www.king5.com/home/Investiga...-huge-salaries-to-fortunate-few-92839669.html

The International Union of Operating Engineers [3] is a labor union that represents land-based operating engineers, including Chief Engineers, and provides members with training and support.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Engineer

 

[Hacp]

The article didn't give the impression that the Union workers were padding their paychecks, but rather their supervisors-



Managerial types, in particular, get mighty vindictive when a mere grunt tries to get 'em kicked off the gravy train...

Not suprising for the usual union-bashers to have it wrong from the start...

All the same. These people are being overpaid! When a private company overpays its workers, it fails. When government overpays its workers, it taxes others to make up the difference.

 

[Jhhnn]

All the same. These people are being overpaid! When a private company overpays its workers, it fails. When government overpays its workers, it taxes others to make up the difference.

Yeh, whenever somebody makes more money than you do, they're obviously overpaid. Unless, of course, they're corporate executives, and then that's different, somehow...

This isn't a problem with the Union, at all, but rather a problem with the management. Allow employees to schedule their own overtime, whatever they feel is necessary? Shee-it, Sherlock. WTF do you think will happen?

Hell, I work with guys who'd put in 16 hour days 7 days a week, work every holiday, too, if the management would allow it.

It all follows one of the maxims of the Right, one I recall from the Reagan years- "Greed is Good!" I suppose that was only meant to apply to guys making millions per year, not tens of thousands...

 

[Argo]

Yeh, whenever somebody makes more money than you do, they're obviously overpaid. Unless, of course, they're corporate executives, and then that's different, somehow...

This isn't a problem with the Union, at all, but rather a problem with the management. Allow employees to schedule their own overtime, whatever they feel is necessary? Shee-it, Sherlock. WTF do you think will happen?

Hell, I work with guys who'd put in 16 hour days 7 days a week, work every holiday, too, if the management would allow it.

It all follows one of the maxims of the Right, one I recall from the Reagan years- "Greed is Good!" I suppose that was only meant to apply to guys making millions per year, not tens of thousands...

There's a big difference between private company's overpaying executives, and government companies doing the same. If you can't see the differences, then I don't know what to say.

 

[GroundedSailor]

It looks like staff chief engineers are union according to some of the articles linked from OP's link.


http://www.king5.com/home/Investiga...-huge-salaries-to-fortunate-few-92839669.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Engineer

The International Union of Operating Engineers [3] is a labor union that represents land-based operating engineers, including Chief Engineers, and provides members with training and support.

The International Union of Operating Engineers represents land-based operating engineers, including Chief Engineers.

Ferry Chief Engineers are Maritime Chief Engineers.

Big difference, as they are NOT covered by the Union of Operating Engineers as implied in your post with the link to Wikipedia.

And, at least on deep sea ships Chief Engineers are very well paid.

 

[dammitgibs]

There's a big difference between private company's overpaying executives, and government companies doing the same. If you can't see the differences, then I don't know what to say.

Bingo, and that's the problem is that so many people can't see the difference. Just remember, not everyone can work for the government.

 

[Siddhartha]

If people are working crazy over time it usually means the company needs to hire more people.

 

[Jhhnn]

There's a big difference between private company's overpaying executives, and government companies doing the same. If you can't see the differences, then I don't know what to say.

Either way, it's a management issue, not having to do with unionization at all.

The union workers are just engaged in the same sort of behavior as Wall St bankers- taking care of #1, if on a much smaller scale. The consequences of ferryboat engineers' greed are inconsequential compared to that of the bankers, but because they're union, why, it's time for a little more of that good old right wing panties in a knot self righteous holier than thou outrage. Gotta feed that Jones, after all...

 

[Hacp]

Either way, it's a management issue, not having to do with unionization at all.

The union workers are just engaged in the same sort of behavior as Wall St bankers- taking care of #1, if on a much smaller scale. The consequences of ferryboat engineers' greed are inconsequential compared to that of the bankers, but because they're union, why, it's time for a little more of that good old right wing panties in a knot self righteous holier than thou outrage. Gotta feed that Jones, after all...

Its an issue with Government AND unions. Get rid of unions and shrink government so this can never happen ever again. These people are crooks who increase their salaries at the taxpayer expense.

 

[CitizenKain]

Its an issue with Government AND unions. Get rid of unions and shrink government so this can never happen ever again. These people are crooks who increase their salaries at the taxpayer expense.

You have a job yet? Or still mooching off taxpayers.

 

[JEDIYoda]

The union is to blame. They don't need to be making that much. In this economy, fire them all.

Generally, for public employees, I think pay should be tied to average or below-average private compensation. When you're a public employee, you're getting extra benefits and job security so you should make less in return.

Thats a stupid and moronic statement!
Public employees have children and a car and a mortgage to pay...don`t be a silly idot dude!!

 

[DucatiMonster696]

The union is to blame. They don't need to be making that much. In this economy, fire them all.

Generally, for public employees, I think pay should be tied to average or below-average private compensation. When you're a public employee, you're getting extra benefits and job security so you should make less in return.

That used to be the idea. A government job was a solid and secure job with good retirement and health benefits. The pay was below that of the private sector but that was the price to be paid for a job you could retain for life basically and still have a good benefits and a retirement plan.

Of course now that idea has gone out the window with the supremacy of government unions and their ability to lobby for higher wages, benefits and retirement plans and the politicians who will pander to them for votes. The increase in wages, benefits, etc though comes at the expense of the tax payer who has to foot the bill in higher taxes. This creates a direct conflict of interest between government unions and the majority of tax payers who do not have a government jobs but are being taxed to support these government workers who enjoy salaries beyond that of the private sector on top of the "job4life" and benefits they receive.

So when the idea of cutting spending, reducing government waste, etc is floated around you can see why government unions and their supporters suddenly get all up in arms. It's in the interest of these government unions and their workers to increase the size and scope of government and its ability to spend money as fast as government itself can tax people to attain said wealth. In the end someone has to give up their proverbial apple to feed the pigs.

 

[ebaycj]

You have a job yet? Or still mooching off taxpayers.

His mom and/or dad likely have jobs and pay taxes, so technically, he is mooching off of (a couple) taxpayers.

 

[GroundedSailor]

Either way, it's a management issue, not having to do with unionization at all.

The union workers are just engaged in the same sort of behavior as Wall St bankers- taking care of #1, if on a much smaller scale. The consequences of ferryboat engineers' greed are inconsequential compared to that of the bankers, but because they're union, why, it's time for a little more of that good old right wing panties in a knot self righteous holier than thou outrage. Gotta feed that Jones, after all...

Yes. Every one on board a vessel, specially the Chief Engineer knows when the vessel is going in for major repairs. I guess these guys took advantage of that knowledge and scheduled their vacation time during that period, knowing fully well they will be called back on high overtime.

Insider trading on a smaller scale... Just like Wall Street.

 

[Genx87]

This story is disgusting.

 

[Lanyap]

The International Union of Operating Engineers represents land-based operating engineers, including Chief Engineers.

Ferry Chief Engineers are Maritime Chief Engineers.

Big difference, as they are NOT covered by the Union of Operating Engineers as implied in your post with the link to Wikipedia.

And, at least on deep sea ships Chief Engineers are very well paid.

Then I'll refer back to the original articles that indicate that they are union.

 

[Throckmorton]

God forbid people earn a good living. I guess only private sector engineers should make over $40k?

Edit: Oh they're misusing overtime