Ferry Interesting

The retired head man of the Washington State Ferries wouldn't ride them if they were free:

Is Mike Anderson, who retired as director of Washington State Ferries in December, eligible for a lifetime ferry pass?

Union retirees and their spouses can ride the ferries for free for life. Since 2004, 219 passes have been issued to retirees and 142 to spouses, according to the state.

During much of his 34-year tenure with the ferry service, Anderson belonged to The Inlandboatmen's Union (IBU) but lost union status when he left his job as a terminal supervisor to become a manager.

Union officials with the Ferry Agents, Supervisors and Special Project Administrators Association (FASPAA), which represents terminal supervisors, say Anderson is entitled to the ferry pass.

But Anderson, who now works for an engineering firm, says he doesn't want one, didn't ask for one, didn't authorize the union to fight for one for him and probably wouldn't use one if he got it.

....Anderson, who says he doesn't want to be in the middle of warring unions, said the whole issue is irrelevant because he never rides the ferries.