Ferguson urges ferry service to resume Tuesday after engineers’ 'sickout’ stalls fleet

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1. 1h ago

   Washington Ferry Service Resumes After Engine Crew Sickout

   Washington State Ferries resumed normal service levels on Tuesday following widespread disruptions caused by an engine room worker sickout on Monday, October 5, 2026. Twenty-three engineers called out sick over wages, forcing mass cancellations and route suspensions, including the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth and Edmonds-Kingston routes. Governor Bob Ferguson urged workers to return to their posts, stating that a sickout is not the correct way to address wage and workforce issues. The union representing the ferry workers stated it did not coordinate the absences, which brought much of the fleet to a halt across the Puget Sound region.

   Why it matters

   Washington State Ferries operates the largest ferry system in the nation, serving as a critical transportation link across the Puget Sound region for commuters and commercial traffic. Workforce shortages and wage gaps among engine room crews have fueled ongoing operational pressures for the agency. The sudden absence of 23 engineers highlights the vulnerability of regional transit networks to labor actions and staffing crises.

   What is confirmed

   • Washington State Ferries service resumed Tuesday at normal levels following Monday disruptions.
   • Twenty-three engine room workers called out sick on Monday, October 5, 2026, causing major cancellations and route suspensions.
   • Governor Bob Ferguson stated that he expected every vessel on every route to run Tuesday morning and urged workers to return.
   • The union representing the ferry workers stated it did not coordinate the sickout.

   What to watch next

   • Resolution of wage gap discussions between Governor Ferguson and the marine engineers union
   • Further announcements regarding engine crew staffing levels across Washington State Ferries routes
   Sources used for this update (26)

   1. KING5.com — Engine room 'sick-out' over wages causes major Washington State Ferries cancellations, disruptions
   2. The Seattle Times — ‘Serious disruptions’ to Washington State Ferries routes across Puget Sound
   3. West Seattle Blog... — ROAD WORK, WEATHER, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Monday info, with Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route out of service (updated)
   4. kuow.org — Ferry service snarled across Puget Sound region amid engine worker sick out
   5. MyNorthwest.com — ‘Not the way to address those issues’: Ferguson expects ferry service to resume tomorrow amid apparent engineer sick-out
   6. KOMO — Ferguson urges ferry service to resume Tuesday after engineers’ 'sickout’ stalls fleet
   7. KING5.com — Closer to normal operations expected after 'sick-out' disrupts Washington State Ferries
   8. MyNorthwest.com — Washington State Ferries still face lingering disruptions after 23 engineers call out sick
   9. Kitsap Sun — Union representing ferry workers says it didn't coordinate absences
   10. MyNorthwest.com — Washington State Ferries to suspend Edmonds/Kingston route
   11. KIRO 7 News Seattle — WA State Ferries says service resumed Tuesday at normal levels after Monday’s disruptions
   12. www.kuow.org — Ferry service snarled across Puget Sound region amid engine worker sick out - KUOW ,Seattle's NPR station
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