It was a terrible time to strike, with the state budget
already cut so far. I recall talking with a guy from the
Philippines via Las Vegas who had arrived to work on a ferry- he asked for
directions in Juneau. The marine 'highway' system has its own interests in mind
rather than those of Alaskans.
The Marine Highway union barricade (strike) is
equivalent to a state disaster affecting thousands of Americans. The blockage
of an international highway should merit federal action to keep it open. It
could even be regarded as worthy of FEMA relief management as a disaster caused
by a Union.
Is it possible to get Coast Guard or naval reservists
to run a few boats while the strike continues in order to not impact everyone's
business? What about hiring a private firm to go from Ketchikan to Hollis and
use the existing system to Northeast P.O.W. to Wrangell? If there was a
permanent shuttle from Wrangell to Mitkov Island that would at least allow most
of the southern half of S.E. to be accessible via land and boat.
Then a northern boat from Petersburg to Juneau to Sitka
could circle, and a Juneau to Haines-Skagway. Three large boats and three
shuttles; not too many to improvise crew for.
Probably there should be one boat to Kodiak from
Whittier- so four large boat altogether.
Unions may coordinate with global socialists to do the
most damage they can to the Alaska and U.S. economy. The ferry union has
international connections. What if there is collusion with China or Canada?
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