Members of the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) at WaterBridge Ferries will begin job action with an overtime ban beginning at 12:00 pm on Saturday, September 28. This latest action comes after the union and WaterBridge Ferries completed essential service negotiations on Friday morning. Ferries operated by Western Pacific Marine are unaffected.
“Ferry workers in the Kootenays are incredibly stretched. Staffing shortages have made extensive overtime the norm rather than the exception,” said BCGEU President Paul Finch.
“In our members’ opinion, this has created a dangerous situation that must stop. WaterBridge knows what it will take to recruit and retain the experienced staff needed to operate these crucial ferries: increasing local training and a compensation increase equal to that of the recent BC ferries’ adjustments.”
The union estimates that around 30 per cent of hours worked on inland ferries in the Kootenays are overtime hours.
According to an analysis of staffing logs, so far in 2024, the Upper Arrow Lake Ferry had at least 1,260 sailings with a vital staff person working overtime – over 4.5 sailings a day. Transport Canada’s safe staffing regulations specify that all those staff must be present to sail. Without overtime, many sailings would be routinely cancelled.
“When overtime shifts are commonplace, we start to see major health and safety concerns – not just for workers, but for passengers too,” said Finch.
“Ferry workers are responsible for safely loading and navigating ferry crossings, and when workers are routinely working 20 to 30 additional hours per week and not able to take breaks, it puts everyone at risk.
The union plans to provide up-to-date information on sailing cancellation projections for the upcoming three days on their website (ferries.bcgeu.ca), but unforeseen cancellations may still occur.
Because many certifications are transferable in the maritime industry, WaterBridge knows the importance of keeping pace with other employers. During bargaining in 2019 they agreed with the union and the two parties did their best to determine equitable compensation based on job duties at comparable BC Ferries positions. However, on April 1, 2024, BC Ferries workers received an average 18 percent increase, as well as other premiums and allowances, and the Inland Ferries have once again fallen behind.
Around 90 BCGEU members work for WaterBridge Ferries on Arrow Lake. Essential service discussions are also ongoing for BCGEU members who are employed by Western Pacific Marine on ferries operating in and around Kootenay Lake.
The BCGEU is one of the largest unions in British Columbia, representing over 90,000 members in nearly every community and economic sector across the province.
Ferry route details– the following ferries are staffed by BCGEU members
Ferries operated by Western Pacific Marine
- Kootenay Lake Ferry – between Balfour terminal and Kootenay Bay Terminal
- Glade Cable – between Nelson and Glade
- Harrop Cable – between Harrop and Proctor
Ferries operated by WaterBridge
- Upper Arrow Lake Ferry – between Shelter Bay and Galena Bay
- Needles Ferry – between Fauquier and Needles
- Arrow Park Ferry – at the junction of Upper and Lower Arrow Lake
- Adams Lake Ferry – between Chase and Sorrento
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