Ferry line’s consultant quits over worker clash

PORTLAND – A consultant hired to help Casco Bay Lines improve its work culture quit because the ferry line’s workers were disrespectful.

Casco Bay Lines hired The Greenshoe Group in December 1999 because employees were complaining of sexual and racial harassment. But the consultant quit in October 2000 because the employees resisted change.

Patrick Christian, general manager of Casco Bay Lines, said the ferry line has continued its effort to improve the workplace, but that change takes time.

“I think we still needed to get more people on board with the program,” he said. “And now that we’ve made some personnel changes, there is less resistance.”

Casco Bay Lines provides ferry service between Portland and various islands in Casco Bay. It is owned by island residents who pay the fares and is overseen by an elected board of directors.

The service has come under scrutiny in recent weeks following reports of sexual and racial harassment and intimidation by ferry captains.

The ferry line is facing three lawsuits from the state Human Rights Commission. A former employee, Leonard Mattos, alleges he was subjected to racial harassment because he’s black, and two other employees say they faced intimidation by ferry captains.

The Greenshoe Group, based on Peaks Island, interviewed 24 Casco Bay Lines employees and directors and reported good service, safe operations and skilled workers. But the consultant also said the service suffered from poor communications, a lack of respect and trust and a poor work environment.

Greenshoe and a group of employees began regular meetings to improve communications and clarify the chain of command, create the first companywide employee appraisal system, and create a system for recognizing and rewarding good work.

By fall, however, Greenshoe became frustrated with the progress, according to documents.