Published: Sunday, June 27, 2010
Washington state ferries privatized? Idea won't float now
As trial balloons go, privatizing the state ferry system is barely inflated.
Gov. Chris Gregoire blew but a few molecules of momentum into it Thursday — yet it was enough to send it drifting above the rigmarole of her latest attempt at remaking government.
It's an idea, one among many.
It's not novel, as 10 ferry systems in the U.S. and British Columbia are in some fashion privately operated. Nor is it new, as Washington State Ferries officials studied the notion years ago.
It is probably about the last darn thing anyone currently associated with running the ferry system wants to be talking about right now.
So why did their boss, the governor, bring it up? And so bluntly? The plan states: “Washington State Ferries could get out of the ferry business. We will analyze the pros and cons of new ownership.”
If simply for the shock factor, she succeeded. Maybe too well.
Sure, now the public knows the extent she's willing to go to iron out expensive wrinkles in state government.
But inside the world of state ferries, few saw this coming, and surprises are not always well-received.
Right now, nine unions representing ferry workers are negotiating with the governor on new contracts in what's been described as tense and difficult talks.
Workers are trying to preserve a package of pay and benefits generally more generous than what other state employees enjoy.
It appears the governor, backed by ferry administrators and state lawmakers, is committed to making things more equal. Not an easy gap to bridge.
Then Gregoire comes along and drops the “P” bomb, as in privatizing. Little strikes more fear in the hearts of public employees than this word.
No doubt a few ferry workers wondered if Gregoire wasn't throwing a little scare their way.
She and her staff denied any motive, stressing it's all about starting a conversation.
This brings us to those at the helm of the ferry system and their mild surprise at learning Gregoire chose to make such a public example out of the ferries.
Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond and ferries chief David Moseley did converse with the governor before she rolled out her master transformation plan. But the duo didn't realize or maybe didn't expect privatizing would get such a marquee billing.
They don't mind chatting about privatizing, but right now they're knee-deep in contract talks and cost-cutting reforms and running the ship. And there's not much there for them to seriously consider.
In a first swipe at the issue, the governor's staff found few benefits for the state and pain for the riders.
“If Washington's ferry system were to be privatized in some form, it would either require a substantial subsidy or service would have to be cut and fares increased,” they told her in a briefing paper.
It feels like the trial balloon is going to get popped before it's fully inflated.
Political reporter Jerry Cornfield's blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com.Contact him at 360-352-8623 orjcornfield@heraldnet.com.
Gov. Chris Gregoire blew but a few molecules of momentum into it Thursday — yet it was enough to send it drifting above the rigmarole of her latest attempt at remaking government.
It's an idea, one among many.
It's not novel, as 10 ferry systems in the U.S. and British Columbia are in some fashion privately operated. Nor is it new, as Washington State Ferries officials studied the notion years ago.
It is probably about the last darn thing anyone currently associated with running the ferry system wants to be talking about right now.
So why did their boss, the governor, bring it up? And so bluntly? The plan states: “Washington State Ferries could get out of the ferry business. We will analyze the pros and cons of new ownership.”
If simply for the shock factor, she succeeded. Maybe too well.
Sure, now the public knows the extent she's willing to go to iron out expensive wrinkles in state government.
But inside the world of state ferries, few saw this coming, and surprises are not always well-received.
Right now, nine unions representing ferry workers are negotiating with the governor on new contracts in what's been described as tense and difficult talks.
Workers are trying to preserve a package of pay and benefits generally more generous than what other state employees enjoy.
It appears the governor, backed by ferry administrators and state lawmakers, is committed to making things more equal. Not an easy gap to bridge.
Then Gregoire comes along and drops the “P” bomb, as in privatizing. Little strikes more fear in the hearts of public employees than this word.
No doubt a few ferry workers wondered if Gregoire wasn't throwing a little scare their way.
She and her staff denied any motive, stressing it's all about starting a conversation.
This brings us to those at the helm of the ferry system and their mild surprise at learning Gregoire chose to make such a public example out of the ferries.
Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond and ferries chief David Moseley did converse with the governor before she rolled out her master transformation plan. But the duo didn't realize or maybe didn't expect privatizing would get such a marquee billing.
They don't mind chatting about privatizing, but right now they're knee-deep in contract talks and cost-cutting reforms and running the ship. And there's not much there for them to seriously consider.
In a first swipe at the issue, the governor's staff found few benefits for the state and pain for the riders.
“If Washington's ferry system were to be privatized in some form, it would either require a substantial subsidy or service would have to be cut and fares increased,” they told her in a briefing paper.
It feels like the trial balloon is going to get popped before it's fully inflated.
Political reporter Jerry Cornfield's blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com.Contact him at 360-352-8623 orjcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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