The group made plans in advance about which legislators they would visit, and whether lawmakers were leaning “for” or “against” saving the ferry system. The union members stuck together when they visited a legislator’s office, and made a point of sharing personal stories that conveyed how much customers depend on the ferry system to keep connected. Members of the Inlandboatmen’s Union (IBU) have been mobilizing with community supporters to save the system beginning several months ago, and they haven’t stopped since.Ī team of 10 IBU members went to Capitol Hill in Juneau on March 28th where they met with 17 different legislators. Trouble started when the governor proposed slashing the state’s Marine Highway System budget by 75% – along with other vital services. The campaign to save good jobs and quality service provided by Alaska ferry workers continued in March and through April. IBU Alaska Patrolman Krissel Calibo reached out to members on the Columbia in Ketchikan, while Puget Sound IBU members Anthony Distefano and Rolland Lee met the crew upon arrival in Bellingham, the Marine Highway’s southernmost terminal. A few days later on April 8th, members attended an action back in Ketchikan where Alaska’s governor and Chamber of Commerce executives were pushing plans to destroy the public ferry system and replace it with a private one. Southwest and Southcentral residents at 1:30 p.m.Organizing in Alaskan waters: Crewmembers on the ferry Columbia, one of 9 vessels operated by the Alaska Marine Highway System, “buttoned-up” on April 5th with the message “Fair Contract Now,” as their ferry traveled from Ketchikan to Bellingham, WA. Southeast residents are invited to participate at 10 a.m. A teleconference to hear oral comments will take place Nov. Written comments on the ferry schedule must be submitted to before Nov. Reservations for the summer 2016 season are expected to open in December under the ferry system’s new online reservation system. “We really need to focus on the transportation needs and what is basic transportation, and make our case to the Legislature,” he said.Īfter the public comment period ends, the summer schedule will be finalized before the end of the year. The state is collecting public comment on the summer ferry schedule, but Venables said to make a difference, Alaskans need to also talk to state lawmakers. “There may be times when people will be sitting for extra days or have to find alternative travel methods.” “With less ships in the water, we’ll have less flexibility to move around the schedule to pick up passengers that may be affected,” Woodrow said. That figure does not include time out of service for breakdowns - every year has them - and with fewer boats in service, any breakdowns will have a bigger effect on schedules. “Next year, we’re proposing 145 weeks of service,” Woodrow said. In summer 2015, that dropped to 184.3 weeks as a result of budget cuts. In summer 2014, the state’s 11 ferries provided a combined 212.9 weeks of service. Unlike a hard-surface roadway, which can defer pothole-filling and maintenance but remain passable, the Marine Highway needs to pay for staff, fuel and maintenance to convey cars. “The reductions we saw as a department this year are about halfway from where we’re going to go,” Woodrow said, explaining the state’s estimate. While no one knows what the Legislature’s final ferry budget will be, almost everyone is expecting it to be lower. What happens from Jonward will be decided by the Legislature. The DOT - parent agency of the marine highway - knows its budget through the end of June. The state’s fiscal year begins July 1, neatly halving the summer season. “Therefore, we’re planning accordingly,” he said. Jeremy Woodrow, a spokesman for the marine highway, said the Alaska Department of Transportation is expecting further budget cuts when the Alaska Legislature meets in January. “This is definitely the lowest (service) we’ve seen in a very, very long time.” The Taku was the first ferry to be laid up by cost-cutting efforts and has not moved from its Ketchikan moorage since last year.