Arrow Lake ferry operations delayed or cancelled as a result of employee strike

An overtime work ban enacted by employees of WaterBridge Ferries is impacting ferry operations on the Arrow Lakes.

The job action began at midnight on September 28, after the BC General Employees’ Union, which represents 90 of WaterBridge’s employees, completed essential service negotiations with the BC Labour Board on Friday morning.

The BCGEU issued 72-hour strike notices to both WaterBridge and Western Pacific Marine on September 23.

As a result of the overtime ban, the following routes may be affected:

  • 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

The ferry schedules from Tuesday to Thursday are as follows:

Tuesday, October 1

  • Upper Arrow Lake Ferry – between Shelter Bay and Galena Bay
    All sailings from 5:00 to 15:00 cancelled.
  • Needles Ferry – between Fauquier and Needles
    All sailings from 6:00 to 18:00 cancelled.
  • Arrow Park Ferry – at the junction of Upper and Lower Arrow Lake
    Unaffected, provided there is no change in staffing.
  • Adams Lake Ferry – between Chase and Sorrento
    Unaffected, provided there is no change in staffing.

Wednesday, October 2

  • Upper Arrow Lake Ferry – between Shelter Bay and Galena Bay
    Unaffected, provided there is no change in staffing.
  • Needles Ferry – between Fauquier and Needles
    Unaffected, provided there is no change in staffing.
  • Arrow Park Ferry – at the junction of Upper and Lower Arrow Lake
    Unaffected, provided there is no change in staffing.
  • Adams Lake Ferry – between Chase and Sorrento
    Unaffected, provided there is no change in staffing.

Thursday, October 3

  • Upper Arrow Lake Ferry – between Shelter Bay and Galena Bay
    All sailings cancelled from 5:00 to 15:00.
  • Needles Ferry – between Fauquier and Needles
    Unaffected, provided there is no change in staffing.
  • Arrow Park Ferry – at the junction of Upper and Lower Arrow Lake
    Unaffected, provided there is no change in staffing.
  • Adams Lake Ferry – between Chase and Sorrento
    Unaffected, provided there is no change in staffing.

Ferries operated by Western Pacific Marine are not currently affected by an overtime ban. The BCGEU is negotiating essential service levels in the coming days, and the following routes may be affected should job action start:

  • Kootenay Lake Ferry – between Balfour terminal and Kootenay Bay terminal
  • Glade Cable – between Nelson and Glade
  • Harrop Cable – between Harrop and Proctor

Updates can be found here. 


Something going on in your part of the Kootenays you think people should know about? Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Storrm Lennie
Storrm Lennie
Storrm began her journalism career in the Kootenays, joining Vista Radio in 2022. Originally from Red Deer, Alta., she now calls Nelson home and brings her passion for politics and community to her reporting.

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