Negotiations scheduled to resume between ferry worker and Western Pacific Marine

Photo: Jasperdo/Flickr

Osprey 2000 leaving Kootenay Bay.

Although negotiations were scheduled to resume Wednesday between the BCGEU ferry workers and Western Pacific Marine strike action is still in effect for the Kootenay Lake ferry service.

Emergency services — medical appointments, students and health-care workers — for essential travellers will be accommodated on the ferry between Kootenay Bay and Balfour, the DriveBC website has noted, with the ferry only operating three times a day on weekdays.

Full strike action began almost two weeks ago when negotiations between the ferry workers’ union and its employers have broken down.

After a 72-hour strike notice was issued Friday, Nov. 1 by the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), Western Pacific Marine Ferries operations at Balfour (Kootenay Lake) were reduced to essential services only, with cable ferry operations Glade and Harrop unaffected by job action.

The escalation followed what the union described as an unsatisfactory offer from the employer that would disadvantage its members.

The offer does not meet the standards set by agreements with Waterbridge and Waterbridge Equipment, said Maria Bennett, BCGEU treasurer, said when strike action began.

“Ferry workers are calling for a fair and equitable deal, comparable wage increases, necessary scheduling adjustments, extended benefits for auxiliary workers, and crucial training support,” she said. “Western Pacific Marine has the means to meet these demands, and workers are unified in their stance.”

Bennett said the ferry workers are committed to maintaining essential services, with three weekday sailings on the Osprey — which travels across Kootenay Lake — for essential travel only and emergency vehicle access outside this schedule. No weekend sailings will occur.

“This strike reflects ferry workers’ determination to achieve industry-aligned conditions and hold Western Pacific Marine accountable to fair standards,” said Bennett.

Three weeks ago it was announced that WaterBridge Ferries — which operates Upper Arrow Lake ferry, Needles ferry, Arrow Park ferry and Adams Lake ferry — had reached a tentative agreement with its 90 employees, returning the inland ferry operations to full service.

As well, WaterBridge Equipment reached a tentative agreement with BCGEU members working on the Francois Lake ferry.

BCGEU president Paul Finch said the tentative agreements respected “the importance of these ferries and the work required to operate them” in the north, and it had given the union optimism for a similar deal down south.

“(W)e hope that Western Pacific Marine will come to the table ready to agree to increases in line with the rest of the industry,” he said.

Finch said current wages and training that were not sufficient to ensure the long-term sustainability of the ferries could be rectified if workers accept the new agreement.