In 1992, the Washington State Ferry System decided three new Jumbo Mark II
ferries were needed for its Bremerton and Bainbridge Island runs. Gordon Baxter
was working as a Business Representative for Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local
32 in Seattle, representing marine pipefitters at the Ferry System's maintenance
facility at the Eagle Harbor shipyard and at the area's shipyards.
Gordon saw that building the new ferries
in Washington would meet the needs of his members by ensuring they would have work.
He saw it would meet the needs of local companies by giving business to Washington
shipyards, subcontractors and vendors. He saw it would would meet the needs of the
taxpayers of Washington State by guaranteeing quality construction, protecting the
environment and using state taxpayer's money to create jobs in state. A study was
commissioned which showed every shipyard job would mean 2-1/2 jobs in the
community. Gordon contacted leaders from labor, business and environmental
communities to form a coalition.
Washington State shipyards are the safest and most environmentally conscious in
the United States. The Washington state environmental community, behind the
leadership of Dyan Oldenburg and Kathy Fletcher of People for Puget Sound, joined
the effort to have the new ferries built in Washington. The business community,
led by Pat McClain of the Maritime Alliance and Randy Ray, lobbyist for Todd Shipyard
and maritime business in Seattle, also joined the effort. The labor movement, led
by Gordon, Rich Feldman of the Seattle Worker's Center, and the Puget Sound Metal
Trades Council, united to push for the work.
For the first time in Washington state, the labor, environmental and business
communities came together to work for a common good. The Build Them in Washington
Coalition was formed to lobby the Washington State Legislature for a bill mandating
the construction be done in Washington state. The Coalition also lobbied for the
budget bills necessary for construction.
The lobbying effort was successful. Todd Shipyard in Seattle and the Evergreen
Consortium of four smaller shipyards bid on the project. Todd won the bid and built
three new Jumbo Mark II ferries, providing reliable and comfortable cross-sound
transportation for residents and visitors.
