STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An administrative law judge ruled on Tuesday that Staten Island Ferry engineers, which represent about half the workers of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), should be paid higher prevailing wages set by domestic commercial cargo ship workers due to the comparable nature of their work.
“City-employed marine engineers and chief marine engineers assigned to the Staten Island Ferry should be paid commensurate with wages and supplemental benefits of chief engineers and first assistant engineers employed on U.S.-flag Maersk Line Ltd. cargo ships under the Dry Cargo Agreement with the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association,” ruled Judge Faye Lewis of the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).
Tuesday’s ruling is the latest development in the union’s years-long battle with the city for a “fair and respectful” new contract, with workers not having received a single wage increase since 2010.
The lack of a new contract and existing low wages have made it difficult for the city to recruit and retain talent during a national maritime workers shortage.
As a result, the Staten Island Ferry is currently short-staffed by approximately 15 key operational positions, which has prompted numerous service reductions in recent years due to the city’s inability to adequately staff the boats.
Union representatives were pleased by the judge’s ruling, which would significantly increase the amount the city would be required to pay Staten Island...
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