The BC General Employees’ Union has issued a 72-hour strike notice to Western Pacific Marine and WaterBridge Ferries, putting them in a position to engage in job action as early as the evening of September 26.
The 72-hour notice was issued on September 23.
Western Pacific operates the Kootenay Lake Ferry and two cable ferries at Harrop and Glade.
WaterBridge operates four ferries on the Arrow Lakes, including the Upper Arrow Lake Ferry, Needles Ferry, Arrow Park Ferry, and the Adams Lake Ferry.
A statement from the BCGEU says the notice comes after months of negotiations over a new collective agreement have stalled. Despite ongoing efforts by the union to reach a fair agreement, the union says “the two employers have repeatedly delayed the bargaining process,” leading the union to take this step.
The BCGEU alleges that Western Pacific and WaterBridge employees earn almost 20 percent less than their counterparts at BC Ferries, suggesting that if the gap isn’t closed, the ferries will be unable to recruit or train the qualified staff needed to operate.
The ferries have faced staffing shortages in recent years that threaten the viability of the service. The BCGEU says that rather than training locally and paying industry-standard wages, the operators have patched service together by relying heavily on overtime, bringing back retired workers, and even flying in temporary workers from elsewhere in the province at high cost.
“Our members know what it will take to keep these ferries running. It’s time for Western Pacific Marine and WaterBridge to invest in their local communities through fair wages and adequate training,” said BCGEU President Paul Finch.
Nearly 170 BCGEU members work on the ferries at Kootenay Lake, Arrow Lakes, and smaller rivers in the region. WaterBridge employs 90, and Western Pacific employs 80.
The union bargaining committee says it remains committed to reaching an agreement without resorting to job action and is prepared to use every minute of the next 72 hours to reach a deal without disrupting service to residents.
A statement from Western Pacific issued on September 23 says the company “remains committed to continuing meaningful dialogue with the BCGEU in coming to a collective agreement that is amenable to both parties” and reiterates that the notice doesn’t necessarily mean that a strike will occur.
“The community and the residents to whom we provide essential service are our top priority; we will make every effort to ensure we meet the needs of the communities we serve. Western Pacific Marine will be taking measures to seek Essential Services designation from the Labour Board of British Columbia in an effort to ensure our sailings continue.”
Updates on job action and bargaining will be posted here.
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