The overtime work ban against Arrow Lake ferry operator WaterBridge Ferries has been suspended, but job action against Kootenay Lake Ferry operator Western Pacific Marine is scheduled to start Saturday morning.
With the overtime work ban now effectively halted at WaterBridge, the ferries at Upper Arrow Lake began a 50 per cent reduction in sailings on Friday at 3 p.m., meaning every second round-trip sailing is cancelled.
The ferries at Needles, Arrow Park, and Adams Lake will begin their reduced schedule at 5 a.m. Saturday.
The Kootenay Lake Ferry from Balfour to Crawford Bay will also begin operating on a reduced schedule on Saturday, with employee strike action scheduled to take place at 6 a.m.
In addition, the return crossings from Kootenay Bay Terminal will be delayed by 45 minutes until the final sailing of the night, which is scheduled for 8:40 p.m.
The ferries at Harrop and Glade remain unaffected.
The strike actions come after months of negotiations over a new collective agreement between the BC General Employees Union and the two West Kootenay ferry operators stalled.
“We will maintain the essential services order during this time of reduced sailings. Emergency sailings will still go ahead,” said BCGEU spokesperson Susan Howatt.
“Our members want to provide the public with certainty and predictability about the ferry schedules, especially during this upcoming long weekend.”
Any updates to the ferry schedule will be posted here.
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