Essential service negotiations are still ongoing between the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), Western Pacific Marine and WaterBridge Ferries.
The BCGEU issued both employers a 72-hour strike notice on September 23. A public hearing with the BC Labour Board to determine the level of essential service began on September 26.
Job action cannot be taken until essential service negotiations are complete, which the union says it doesn’t anticipate happening until next week.
Once job action commences, any disruptions to service will be posted here.
WaterBridge Responds
WaterBridge Ferries, which operates four ferries on the Arrow Lakes, provided a statement on the ongoing negotiations on September 26.
The BCGEU alleges that the employer pays its workers 20 per cent less than its counterpart at BC Ferries, which WaterBridge has stated is incorrect.
“Paul Finch from BCGEU has stated that wages for WaterBridge Ferries are 20 per cent below BC Ferries. In fact, WaterBridge Ferries employees, on average, as of March 31, are earning 5.5 per cent more than BC Ferries employees.
While the union has proposed a 25 per cent wage increase over three years, which includes a 16 per cent general wage increase in year one, we have tabled a substantial offer of a 20 per cent increase over three years.”
The company noted that there are “fundamental differences” in the nature of their operations versus BC Ferries, stating that many of their crew members on the Columbia vessel hold restricted Certificates of Competency, limiting them to operating only on the Arrow Lakes.
WaterBridge emphasized that this distinction is crucial and often overlooked in the union’s comparisons, which “fail to account for the differences in qualifications and roles between the two ferry systems.”
“We remain open and available to engage in fair and reasonable discussions concerning wages and benefits. We have offered to bring this dispute to mediation; however, the BCGEU has refused.”
Vista Radio reached out to the BCGEU for a response to WaterBridge’s statement but has not yet heard back.
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