Kootenay Lake Ferry employees began job action yesterday (Sunday, November 3), significantly impacting ferry sailings and travellers.
The job action comes after months of unsuccessful negotiations between ferry operator Western Pacific Marine and the BC General Employees’ Union over a new collective agreement.
Western Pacific operates the Kootenay Lake ferry from Crawford Bay and Balfour, as well as two cable ferries at Harrop and Glade. Job action will not impact the cable ferries’ operations, as they have been deemed an essential service.
However, all weekend sailings are effectively cancelled on the Kootenay Lake Ferry, with weekday sailings limited to just three a day. Essential sailings will proceed outside of those times for emergency responders and other essential purposes.
The BCGEU says the escalation of job action follows an “unsatisfactory offer from the employer that would disadvantage our members and does not meet the standards set by agreements with Waterbridge and Waterbridge Equipment.”
Waterbridge Ferries, which operates ferries on the Arrow Lakes, was the subject of a separate job dispute with the BCGEU, but a tentative deal was reached last week.
To kick off the strike, a solidarity rally was held at the Balfour Terminal Sunday morning. Dozens of workers took part, advocating for the need to achieve industry-aligned conditions and hold Western Pacific Marine accountable to fair standards.
“This is a very important time for ferry workers here on Kootenay Lake. We need the same deal that Waterbridge Ferries and Waterbridge Equipment got, and we are going to fight until the end to get it,” said Dustin Jones, a member of the BCGEU bargaining committee who led Sunday’s rally.
Changes to the ferry scheduled can be found on Drive BC.
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