The BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union (BCFMWU) says it still hasn’t been approached by BC Ferries about the possible schedule changes for Route 3 raised at this month’s meeting of the Southern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC).
BC Ferries officials, including vice president of strategic planning Mark Collins, discussed possible collective agreement changes to enable Ferries to extend the service day on the Langdale run, which would make delays and overloads less likely.
Collins said Ferries was working hard on the initiative, which it hopes to move forward with in the spring, but pointed out it would require the support of the BCFMWU.
Graeme Johnston, the union’s provincial president, told Coast Reporter this week that they’ve yet to see a proposal.
“The union and the company have not been collaborating in any way on this issue. We have not been informed of any planned changes. We’re aware that there’s been an internal discussion, and so far we’re only aware that this discussion pertains to Route 2 [Horseshoe Bay – Nanaimo],” he said. “As far at the union knows and has been informed, the company has absolutely zero plans to make any changes to their schedules or hours of work right now.”
Darin Guenette, BC Ferries’ manger of public affairs, who also attends FAC meetings, said, “The union is aware that we are reviewing options on several routes. While there have been no direct discussions on Route 3, it was and is our intention to engage with the union in the near future.”
Collins also said at the Nov. 14 meeting that he believed the union would be favourable to the proposed changes, but according to Johnston “it’s definitely too early to say until we see something on the table.”
