Bargaining Update #12
Union Bargaining Update
The following update is provided for the information of BCFMWU members only. Please do not post on bulletin boards or share on social media.
Over the past weeks the Employer, for reasons of its own, decided to send People and Safety Updates to Union members making Wage re-opener statements that are different than the “best and final offer” received by the Union Central Negotiating Committee in August 2023.These actions are outside the Protocol Agreement for the 2023 Wage re-openers and for these reasons the Union cannot disclose the original final and best without also compromising the Protocol Agreement. The Union believes that recent actions by the employer constitute unfair labour practices and bargaining in bad faith, issues that need to be addressed by the Labour Relations Board.
Misleading and direct negotiations with membership in written form or in person discussions with specific groups is uncommon. Functionally, it appears the employer is working around the BCFMWU as the sole bargaining agent. The Union is taking the position that any offers stated publicly or directly to membership by members of BC Ferries negotiating team or senior management will form part of a new “best and final offer” from the employer and increase the value for BCFMWU members through the Dispute Resolution Process.
The Central Negotiating Committee refused the employers’ lowball offers in August. Further, the recent actions of the employer in the last month demonstrate the original “best and final offer” proposed in the August Wage re-opener negotiations was a lowball offer and the Central Negotiating Committee was correct to declare impasse.
In solidarity we stand, and are committed to you, our members, to achieve the best possible results.
On behalf of your Central Negotiating Committee,
Strength in numbers and stronger together.
Eric McNeely
Provincial President & Committee Chair
BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union
DO NOT post on social media or bulletin boards.
BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union
1511 Stewart Avenue
Nanaimo, BC V9S 4E3
Union Office Telephone: 1.800.663.7009 or 250.716.3454
Mail: mailroom@bcfmwu.com Fax: 250.716.3455
