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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   What the union contract says Here is the language from the ferry agent union's contract: PASSES 34.01 The Employer shall, upon application, issue, to any employee continuously employed for at least six (6) months, annual passes authorizing free passage for the employee and the employee's spouse and dependents, as well as for the employee's motor vehicle and tow on all vessels of the Employer. 34.02 The Employer shall, upon application, issue to any employee continuously employed for at least two (2) years an additional vehicle pass authorizing free vehicle passage for the employee's spouse on all vessels of the Employer. 34.03 Any employee who leaves the service of the Employer shall immediately surrender to the Employer all passes held by the employee or dependents, except as otherwise provided in this Rule. 34.04 Every employee who is on an approved withdrawal from the Union and continues to work for WSF in a management position, and/or who is retired under the provisions of the State Employees Retirement System, inclusive of disability retirement, shall be issued annual passes authorizing free passage for such employee, spouse, and dependent members of their family, together with their motor vehicle, on all vessels of the Employer. 34.05 No passes of any kind shall be used for the purpose of commuting to or from employment other than employment with the Washington State Ferries. Vehicle passes shall be used only on a space available basis. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed as applying to any employee engaged in traveling to or from work with the Employer.   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, April 2, 2008 Should retired chief of ferries get free rides? His former union says he should, but the state disagrees. By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer OLYMPIA -- Retired state ferries chief Mike Anderson didn't request a lifetime pass of free fares, but a union to which he once belonged is fighting to get him one. The Ferry Agents, Supervisors and Project Administrators Association contends Anderson deserves the perk provided to current and retired members under terms of its labor contract. Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said it's not going to happen. "I don't think he's entitled," she said Monday. "I find it bad practice for the managers of state agencies to get a lifetime benefit for something for which they did not bargain." Anderson said Tuesday he did not ask the union to act on his behalf. It did so nonetheless. When its initial request was rejected, the union filed a grievance March 3. It withdrew it March 17. "Because Mr. Anderson was not part of the bargaining unit, the union could not file a grievance on his behalf and the union decided to withdraw it," said Jessica Todorovich, labor and employees relation manager for the Department of Transportation. The matter is not over, said union president Vern Rosbach. "It is still up in the air, so I can't really talk about it," he said. Rosbach would not elaborate on what motivated the union request, its decision to file a grievance then pull it back and whether it will file another complaint against the agency. "I can't comment on it right now. Not at this point," he said. Anderson said he has not spoken with Rosbach but presumed the union is pushing the matter on principle because it believes it is a negotiated benefit that must be granted. "If it is a contractual right that I'm entitled to, I should get it. If it is not, then I shouldn't," he said. "I'm OK with it either way." A pass to ride the ferries free is a long-standing benefit for current and retired employees negotiated into eight contracts with maritime unions representing 1,580 employees in Washington State Ferries. Since 2004, Washington State Ferries has issued passes to 219 retirees and 142 spouses of retirees. Under the ferry agents' contract, a person employed at least six months can obtain a pass for one car that can be used by the employee and his or her spouse and dependents. After two years, a pass for a second car can be obtained. The pass allows free travel on boats that are not full. If a particular boat they want to ride on is full, they are supposed to pay. Employees must always wait their turn in line to board. The value of this benefit depends on how often it is used and on what routes. On the Edmonds-Kingston route, the one-way fare for a car and driver is $11.55, whereas the charge is $6.85 for car and driver on the Mukilteo-Clinton route. Anderson retired in December after a 34-year career in the ferry system. He now works for KPFF Consulting Engineers in Seattle as director of its marine transit group. Anderson started with the ferry system in 1973 as a ticket seller. He rose through the ranks to director of operations and was tapped for the top ferry job in 2004 by then-Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald. After becoming ferries chief, he said he took "official withdrawal" from the union, although he believed he retained the rights accorded union members. Anderson could have resigned as ferries director, rejoined the union, worked one day as a terminal supervisor then retired and likely received a pass without question. He chose not to do that. "It was not an issue that was that important to me," he said, adding that he hasn't ridden a ferry since leaving the state agency. Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

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