Frequently Asked Questions
Who Are We?
We are inland ferry employees working on routes operated by Western Pacific Marine including the Kootenay Lake Ferry and the Glade and Harrop cable ferry—Our team includes approximately 80 members who operate three ferries, filling diverse roles such as ship captains, engineers, officers, deckhands, engine room staff, cable ferry operators, terminal attendants, and marine clerks. We live and work in ferry-dependent communities, where we understand that our service is more than just transportation; it’s a lifeline for residents and travelers alike.
What’s Happening with the Inland Ferry Service?
Staff operating on Kootenay Lake are currently in negotiations with their employer, Western Pacific Marine, to reach a new collective agreement which expired on March 31, 2024. As of November 3, 2024, at 12:00 PM, Western Pacific Marine ferry workers are taking job action, which includes service disruption on the Kooteny Lake Ferry, the Osprey. The Glade and Harrop cable ferries will continue service unaffected. This step comes after receiving an unsatisfactory offer from the employer, which would disadvantage our members and fails to meet the standards achieved by agreements with other ferry operators like Waterbridge and Waterbridge Equipment.
Why Are Inland Ferry Workers Taking Job Action?
We’re facing a recruitment and retention crisis due to below-industry compensation, which makes it challenging to attract and keep talent in our communities. While we love where we live and work, the current conditions force us to rely on overtime to keep ferries running. This is not sustainable. We believe that fair compensation that is in line with the marine industry standards would allow us to retain staff, attract new hires, and invest in training for career advancement. Without meaningful progress at the bargaining table, we’re left with no option but to escalate job action.
What Are the Key Issues?
During negotiations, we’ve discussed various challenges but are at an impasse with Western Pacific Marine on these critical issues:
- Wages and Benefits
We are facing a staffing crisis as we can’t attract and retain the most skilled ship masters and engineers because our compensation is far below the industry standard. We have local workers who want to fill these positions in our communities, but we need the company to invest in their training.
Inland ferry workers earn, on average, 18% less than their counterparts at BC Ferries, with fewer shift premiums and benefits. Since certifications are transferable within the maritime industry, it’s vital for us to keep pace with competitive wages to avoid losing talent.
- Training and Career Development
We are asking for investments in training local employees, which would strengthen our workforce and reduce dependency on external recruitment. This investment would support a stable workforce, rooted in and committed to our communities.
- Improved Working Conditions and scheduling
We’re seeking healthier work schedules with expanded sailing times and better access to health and welfare benefits for auxiliary employees. Such changes would improve our quality of life and make these essential roles more attractive to current and prospective employees.
We are concerned about safety. Many ferry sailings are reliant on overtime to run, and single-operator ferries mean that we are not able to do our job safely and deliver the highest level of service that you deserve. This is simply not sustainable. Our members are exhausted.
We have proposed to expand the ferry service on Kootenay Lake through scheduling changes. We have proposed to our employer to once again adopt a ‘day-for-day’ schedule, which is common in the marine industry and is used at other inland ferry services.
How Many Sailings Will There Be During Job Action?
During the strike, essential services sailings are being maintained on a limited schedule to ensure that critical transportation needs are met. The following sailings are scheduled to operate each day:
- 6:30 AM – Departure from Balfour
- 7:10 AM – Departure from Kootenay Bay
- 8:10 AM – Departure from Balfour
- 9:00 AM – Departure from Kootenay Bay
- 4:30 PM – Departure from Balfour
- 5:20 PM – Departure from Kootenay Bay
Please check with your local terminal for any updates or potential changes to this schedule.
What Are Essential Services?
During the strike, essential services are being maintained to ensure that critical needs are met for ferry-dependent communities. Essential services refer to sailings that are necessary for public health and safety, such as transporting emergency vehicles, healthcare workers, students, and supplies vital to community well-being. These services have been arranged to minimize risks to vulnerable populations and ensure that no one is left without access to crucial support. We are committed to ensuring that the dedicated essential services sailings are available to community members that need them.
The BCGEU and Western Pacific Marine are both bound by the essential services order as set by the Labour Relations Board.
Who Can Ride During the Strike?
Access to ferry services during the strike will be limited to those requiring essential travel. This includes:
- Persons crossing for medical treatments/appointments, including persons who cannot otherwise obtain pharmacy medication on the East Shore or Creston;
- Personnel necessary for the continued operation of medical services at the East Shore Community Health Centre;
- Students (up to and including Grade 12 students) crossing to attend classes at public or private school;
- Parents or guardians of students crossing for the purpose of dropping off or picking up students attending classes (excluding non-classroom or extracurricular school activities) at public or private school; and
- Personnel who are necessary for the operation of classes and administrative/custodial staff at public and private schools.
How long with this last?
Management at the Western Pacific Marine understand the only way to resolve this dispute is by coming back to the table with an offer that keeps training and job opportunities in the community and allows us to expand the ferry service. This includes marine industry standard wage increases.
Who Funds Inland Ferries?
Inland ferries are funded by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation but operated by private companies under contract.
How Did We Get Here?
The Ministry of Transportation’s decision to contract out ferry operations has led to cost-cutting measures over the years, affecting wages, working conditions, and job retention. As a result, inland ferry workers face challenges not experienced by publicly operated services like BC Ferries, contributing to our current situation and the need for meaningful change.