渡轮「病假潮」后 华盛顿州长下令评估轮机工程师薪酬
据《华盛顿州标准报》10月16日报道，在一次「病假潮」（sickout）扰乱华盛顿州渡轮服务后，州长鲍勃·弗格森下令对轮机工程师的薪酬作新的评估，为明年夏天与工会的工资谈判做准备。
报道称，弗格森的谈判代表在数月谈判中拒绝给轮机工程师受益协会（MEBA）成员加薪，工会未批准协议，争议交由第三方仲裁。工程师们提出的问题包括与甲板船员的薪酬差距、过度加班和人手短缺，以及最近一份合同未带来加薪。
弗格森承认需要解决薪酬差距，但表示州预算的挑战可能延缓调整。华盛顿州渡轮是该州普吉特海湾地区的重要交通系统。
事发后，州交通部门陆续恢复了多条航线的正常班表。州长办公室表示，此次评估将参考同类岗位的市场薪酬数据，结果将作为下一轮集体谈判的依据。
Washington Governor Ferguson Calls for Salary Survey After Ferry Sickout
Following a sickout that disrupted Washington State Ferries service, Gov. Bob Ferguson has ordered a new evaluation of marine engineers' salaries ahead of union wage negotiations next summer, the Washington State Standard reported on October 16.
Negotiators for Ferguson refused to offer a wage increase to members of the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association in months of talks on a new two-year agreement. The union did not ratify an agreement, and the dispute went to a third-party arbitrator. Engineers have raised concerns about pay disparities with deck crews, excessive overtime and staffing shortages.
Ferguson acknowledged the need to address the pay gap but said the state's budget challenges could delay changes.
The state transportation department has since been restoring normal schedules on the affected routes. The governor's office said the review will draw on market pay data for comparable positions and will inform the next round of collective bargaining.
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图片来源：华盛顿州议会大厦，位于奥林匹亚 / Washington State Capitol in Olympia (Wikimedia Commons)
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