The strike called for by the Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific (IBU) this week defies all logic. Talk about giving the governor exactly what he wants at a most expeditious time - the script couldn't be more perfect.
Instead of shutting down the ferries in October, the IBU now insures the ferries shut down in mid-summer. And in summer, visitors are impacted rather than state residents who are busy working seasonal jobs like construction and fishing.
Of course, this will not endear members of the IBU to Alaskans who rely on visitors to fill their lodges, hotels, B&Bs, tour boats and other venues during the short summer tour season. Those providing tourism opportunities throughout the state are going to be quite irate.
The IBU has created an irrational perfect storm that just plays into the hands of state budget cutters. We don't see how it will help them negotiate better contract terms, when millions of dollars in summer income goes down the drain, making the ferry operations even more tenuous.
For the Dept. of Administration to enter into an agreement that would benefit the IBU in the short term but imperil the well-being and fiscal future of all Alaskans in the long-term is very counterproductive.
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