State warns striking ferry workers of loss of health coverage

Tensions escalated Friday in a labor dispute that has over 400 workers striking and has shut down the Alaska Marine Highway System since Wednesday.

The state sent a letter to the more than 400 striking workers represented by the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific warning employees that the state would not be paying health insurance premiums or unemployment compensation if the strike lasts past August 1.

“We want these people to be back to work and we do not want them to lose their health insurance and we don’t want our coastal communities affected anymore,” Department of Administration commissioner Kelly Tshibaka said on a call to reporters. “This is supposed to be one of the record-breaking tourist seasons of the year. We’ve got people stranded in places where they don’t know how they’re going to get back home. We have goods and commerce that are being disrupted and affected in tremendous and harmful ways.”

Tshibaka, who signed the letter, urged the union to return to talks through a federal mediator.

Department of Transportation commissioner John MacKinnon said eight of the system’s ships that were in service this week have been tied up at the docks. As of Friday morning there were still 225 passengers and 94 vehicles stranded in ports that were not their final destinations. Those are travelers who are still looking for other alternatives to ferry travel.

Read more: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/07/26/state-warns-striking-ferry-workers-of-loss-of-health-coverage/