Malliotakis Statement on City Contract Dispute, Staten Island Ferry Service Reductions

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today released the following statement regarding the ongoing service reduction on the Staten Island Ferry.

"This morning I joined my city, state, and federal colleagues on a call with Mayor Adams, New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) Commissioner Rodriguez, along with City Hall and NYCDOT staff regarding the staffing shortages that have impacted Staten Island Ferry service for the commuters we represent.

"It is evident that these staffing shortages and service reductions on the Ferry are due to the city's inability over the past decade to come to a contract agreement with the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA) that represents captains, assistant captains, engineers, and mates. While I understand this problem was inherited by Mayor Adams, I wrote to the new Mayor in January expressing my concerns that not resolving this dispute immediately would lead to the staffing shortages and irregular ferry schedule we're seeing today.

"I've spoken with representatives from MEBA who say they've lost talent to other transportation networks and private industries that provide a better quality of life for workers and their families. It's clear that their members are overworked, underpaid, and desperate for a new contract that addresses retention, overtime, and other staffing issues. While the Mayor's office emphasized they are working as quickly as possible to address this dispute, reductions in service have become all the more frequent and should have been made a top priority during the first few months of this administration when I and other Staten Island officials highlighted it. In the meantime, it's important for both parties to remain dedicated to finding a solution while also showing up to work so there is minimal impact on passenger service and safety.

"I fear that the longer this dispute goes on, the more it will impact operational and passenger safety risks for those I represent. I continue to urge the Mayor and his staff to address these issues immediately so MEBA members can have the contract they deserve and normal ferry operations can resume as quickly as possible."

For a copy of Malliotakis' January letter to Mayor Adams, click HERE.