Updated story, October 10, 12:30 p.m.:
The BC General Employees Union has confirmed that there will be no job action Thursday on any Western Pacific Marine Ferries.
Original story, October 9:
After a significant day of bargaining, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has announced that its members will engage in legal strike action against West Kootenay ferry operator Western Pacific Marine today, Thursday, at 2:10 p.m.
The BCGEU represents 80 employees at Western Pacific Marine, which operates the Kootenay Lake Ferry and two cable ferries at Harrop and Glade.
The strike action comes two days after the union served the employer with a second 72-hour strike notice on Monday, October 7.
Essential service negotiations were held throughout the day on Wednesday to try to agree on the level of essential service, which BCGEU spokesperson Susan Howatt says was unsuccessful.
“Our union met with Western Pacific Marine for a significant day of bargaining. Unfortunately, negotiations did not achieve an agreement. The Labour Board has already issued the essential services order, which means that job action can take place on the Kootenay Lake Ferry route.”
As a result, BCGEU members will be in a legal strike position as of 2:10 p.m. on Thursday.
Negotiations are scheduled to return to the bargaining table on October 21, with Howatt stating that the union is working towards a “strong agreement that values the work members do, with a compensation package that is competitive.”
The BCGEU is also currently engaged in job action against WaterBridge Ferries, which operates ferries on the Arrow Lakes.
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