Hullo Ferries workers have voted in favour of joining the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union.
Close to 85 per cent of Hullo’s proposed bargaining unit voted, and nearly 82 per cent of those were in favour of joining the union, said union president Eric McNeely, calling the result “decisive.”
Online voting ended Friday afternoon.
The next step is for workers to form a bargaining committee to engage in discussions with the employer for a first contract, McNeely said Monday.
The bargaining unit would consist of 76 individuals who work on the company’s two ferries and at its terminals in Nanaimo and Vancouver, he said.
In a statement, Hullo deckhand Alex Pettigrew said unionization will provide job security for employees and “help the company maintain a happy work environment for all.”
“I am confident this change will help in Hullo’s journey to become the world’s friendliest ferry company and am excited to see our company grow and thrive.
McNeely said issues expected to arise during negotiations include job stability, compensation and career advancement for workers.
A Hullo spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday. The service is operated by Vancouver Island Ferry Company, based in Nanaimo.
Hullo opened slightly more than a year ago, offering walk-on passenger service between downtown Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver.
On its one-year anniversary, the company said that it had carried about 400,000 passengers on about 3,000 sailings.
