# Washington State Ferries **URL:** \ **Category:** Maritime Employment\ **Created:** [January 11, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021 "2018-01-11T17:30:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DutchHarBro](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dutchharbro/32/6152_2.png) [@DutchHarBro](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DutchHarBro)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/83 "2018-09-20T12:36:16Z")
I know no one here believes me, and I’m not crying in my beer about it, but I took the lumps, the lesson, and found a job back on the tugs. For the record, I was never late, I never called out, and my probationary evaluations were all good. All I was told by Bill Michaels on the way out was “I got calls about you,” with no context provided. The ‘toxic’ statement was leveled against the IBU, not WSF. I’m not too happy with WSF for not telling me where I went wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Bayrunner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/bayrunner/32/966_2.png) [@Bayrunner](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Bayrunner)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/84 "2018-09-20T13:16:03Z")
> [@Tacktician](#): > > I absolutely love working on the water and sleeping in my own bed every night. I took a pay cut to be able to do that, and it was still worth it for me. I’m also with a public ferry outfit. ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/85 "2018-09-20T16:03:01Z")
I did the same going to work for the COE running survey launches. ---
**Author:** ![Doublewide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doublewide](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Doublewide)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 1:10am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/86 "2018-09-23T01:10:20Z")
> [@DutchHarBro](#): > > All I was told by Bill Michaels on the way out was “I got calls about you,” with no context provided. Even though there are a lot of employees in the fleet, this is a **small** community and “news” travels… The “calls about you”?? Multiple officers and crew who worked with you recommended you be let go and that you weren’t able or willing to do your job properly (I’ll leave the creepy details out, but if true, they were absolutely right to run you out). > [@DutchHarBro](#): > > no one here believes me And they shouldn’t. Like I said, you have to really eff up to get canned from WSF. Sad that you’d use this forum as a way to disparage WSF and the IBU for behavior that rests squarely on you. ---
**Author:** ![DeepSeaDiver](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/deepseadiver/32/21_2.png) [@DeepSeaDiver](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DeepSeaDiver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/87 "2018-09-24T22:45:50Z")
You might be getting some new vessels to work on as the current fleet ages and is replaced? > **[WSF wants 5 new ferries over next 5 years as current fleet ages](https://komonews.com/news/local/wsf-wants-5-new-ferries-over-next-20-years-as-current-fleet-ages)** > > SEATTLE -- The Washington State Ferry System has released a draft of their 20-year long-range plan. The more than 300-page document recommends new boats and a modest increase in service to deal with congestion. There have been 25 million riders who... ---
**Author:** ![c.captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/c.captain/32/807_2.png) [@c.captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/c.captain)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/88 "2018-09-25T15:45:30Z")
> [@Doublewide](#): > > Sad that you’d use this forum as a way to disparage WSF and the IBU for behavior that rests squarely on you. I don’t paint DHB with such a black brush. My dealings with the WSF have indicated to me a pretty well established incestuous relationship between them and the IBU. One is left to wonder if the IBU actually tells the WSF how to run their system? I think DHB discovered this very quickly in his time there and there are some of us who are just not go along, get along kind of people. He spoke out about what he witnessed and higher powers made sure to silence his voice. ---
**Author:** ![c.captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/c.captain/32/807_2.png) [@c.captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/c.captain)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/89 "2018-09-25T15:49:09Z")
> [@DeepSeaDiver](#): > > You might be getting some new vessels to work on as the current fleet ages and is replaced? just lovely…you do know that pretty much every brand new ferry built for the system must come from Vigor don’t you? and what do you call a business when there isn’t any competition? a “Mafia” comes to mind… ---
**Author:** ![DeepSeaDiver](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/deepseadiver/32/21_2.png) [@DeepSeaDiver](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DeepSeaDiver)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/90 "2018-09-25T16:28:40Z")
> [@c.captain](#): > > must come from Vigor Yes - I do know that. The system does have many flaws. Like the Connecting Washington funding package. Have any of you been on the Suquamish yet? ---
**Author:** ![Doublewide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doublewide](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Doublewide)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/91 "2018-09-27T20:56:31Z")
> [@c.captain](#): > > He spoke out about what he witnessed and higher powers made sure to silence his voice. The idea that this guy’s opinion about Janus/Union Dues/Seniority, or the color of the sky for that matter, has any bearing on WSF’s decision to fire him is absurd. If that was the case, ~20% of the fleet would be in the unemployment line… What I heard–directly from an officer who worked with DHB-- is that he was fired after being **active** in the fleet for _less than a month_ because he: a) Did not do his job b) Acted like a child when asked to do his job c) Was constantly insubordinate and disruptive Unless you’re the PUSA, 😉 that kind of behavior will get you corrected/written up/fired from damn near any employer…the WSF brass could care less about the “right to work” opinion DHB expressed. His _behavior_ left them no choice but to terminate. I am far from an IBU and WSF “cheerleader”, and have experienced firsthand the shortcomings, gaffes and complete clusterfucks that both have perpetrated upon each other and the employees. Regardless, I have a hard time standing by while this guy blames others for his own shortcomings and questionable behavior. /rant ---
**Author:** ![c.captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/c.captain/32/807_2.png) [@c.captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/c.captain)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/92 "2018-09-27T23:18:43Z")
> [@Doublewide](#): > > I am far from an IBU and WSF “cheerleader”, and have experienced firsthand the shortcomings, gaffes and complete clusterfucks that both have perpetrated upon each other and the employees. so why the long knives for DHB? why are you so seeming joyfully pointing out how it was anything but his political views which ended his tenure at WSF? you do appear to have a submerged agenda here to sink DHB to keep the WSF/IBU afloat… ---
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 11:58pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/93 "2018-09-27T23:58:03Z")
I just hope he learned from the experience and wish him future success. My only complaint is that he came on here whining like Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![Doublewide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doublewide](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Doublewide)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/94 "2018-09-28T00:47:55Z")
> [@c.captain](#): > > why the long knives for DHB? > [@tugsailor](#): > > he came on here whining like Hillary That, in a nutshell… > [@c.captain](#): > > why are you so seeming joyfully pointing out how it was anything but his political views which ended his tenure at WSF? Because his views didn’t get him fired, his actions/insubordination/demeanor did. ---
**Author:** ![c.captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/c.captain/32/807_2.png) [@c.captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/c.captain)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 12:57am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/95 "2018-09-28T00:57:14Z")
> [@Doublewide](#): > > Because his views didn’t get him fired, his actions/insubordination/demeanor did. and thus you enjoy incessantly beating the man over the head because he got canned from the WSF? you seem to truly love his sorry downfall and thus I ask why? ---
**Author:** ![Kraken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Kraken](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kraken)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/96 "2018-09-28T01:01:40Z")
Jesus, he put his head on the chopping block. If you are terminated because of pure incompetence shut the fuck up and dont post on the internet? He was asking to be shot down. ---
**Author:** ![DutchHarBro](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dutchharbro/32/6152_2.png) [@DutchHarBro](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DutchHarBro)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 1:09am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/97 "2018-09-28T01:09:49Z")
I’d like to have your claims substantiated. You say in post 86 that no one should believe me; I agree! The burden is on me to substantiate my claim. Further, your claim is unsubstantiated. I never definitively said my political slant got me fired, I made the observation that I had a chat about ‘right to work’ with a high seniority AB on the last day I worked for WSF. It left me wondering. Of note on my experience with WSF, and my West Coast sailing experiences, is that the culture sucks on the West Coast, especially in the PNW. Half of my experience sailing was inland and offshore Gulf/East Coasts. I _never_ wondered about my standing or performance with the crews I worked with. My errors were corrected swiftly and effectively. West Coast? It always felt passive aggressive, avoiding confrontation, calling the office first. Also, it’s telling for me with boattrash1 his attitude change between posts 64 and 67. It’s possible to be pro-union and pro-right to work. ---
**Author:** ![DutchHarBro](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dutchharbro/32/6152_2.png) [@DutchHarBro](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DutchHarBro)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/98 "2018-09-28T01:14:31Z")
Oh sure, I took my lumps from them. I moved out of Washington and found employment elsewhere ---
**Author:** ![boattrash1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@boattrash1](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/boattrash1)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 4:32am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/99 "2018-09-28T04:32:12Z")
> [@DutchHarBro](#): > > Also, it’s telling for me with boattrash1 his attitude change between posts 64 and 67. It’s possible to be pro-union and pro-right to work Explain how any person who is pro union can be pro right to work? You never answered my question. Would you still be paying dues after the Janus decision? ---
**Author:** ![DutchHarBro](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dutchharbro/32/6152_2.png) [@DutchHarBro](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DutchHarBro)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 7:50am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/100 "2018-09-28T07:50:59Z")
> Explain how any person who is pro union can be pro right to work? The issue you have is the free rider problem, non members getting the benefits of dues paying members. That stems from a federal law stating that a union needs to negotiate on behalf of all workers in the level they are organizing. That’s bullshit and needs to change. You want the benefits the union provide? Join the damn union. Want to go it on your own? Don’t cry to the union when shit goes south. No organization should be able to use its coercive power to force agency, membership, or money from unwilling participants. It creates an organizational rot that will only chase it’s own revenue stream at the expense of workers and its mission. > Would you still be paying dues after the Janus decision? Had they continued to provide me a benefit for my dues, yes. I read the CBA, that was some strong language and WSF paid some thousands of dollars training me and providing me with gear that I was still receiving in the mail post termination! The STCW I took pre-employment made the whole ordeal worth it. ---
**Author:** ![boattrash1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@boattrash1](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/boattrash1)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/101 "2018-09-29T00:07:11Z")
> [@DutchHarBro](#): > > It creates an organizational rot that will only chase it’s own revenue stream at the expense of workers and its mission. [https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000033379&cycle=2018](https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000033379&cycle=2018) I bet you all edison chouest employees would have like they’re 401k contributions they were promised versus them giving money to politicians. ---
**Author:** ![DutchHarBro](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dutchharbro/32/6152_2.png) [@DutchHarBro](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DutchHarBro)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 10:27am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021/102 "2018-09-29T10:27:28Z")
They could have unionized or found other employment. [Previous page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021.md?page=4) [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/washington-state-ferries/47021.md?page=6)