Entries by Jarod Korchinski
BC Ferries revises four-year plan, cites financial and staffing challenges
BC Ferries has reassessed its latest four-year plan to include new challenges the service is facing, the company said. A 41-page report has been submitted to the independent BC Ferries Commissioner, updating the corporation’s previous plan which was provided six months ago. The report outlines challenges including a forecasted mild recession in 2024, an expected decline […]
BC Ferries report highlights significant problems ahead
A new report suggests there could be rough waters on the horizon for BC Ferries when it comes to revenue, sky-rocketing costs and labour shortages. The document is a revision of a report submitted just six months ago to the BC Ferries commissioner. “The original plan was informed by the latest financial and economic data […]
BC Ferries Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay sees long delays due to pulled vessel
If you’re hoping to travel on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay BC Ferries route Friday, patience, or at the very least a reservation, is highly recommended. Following Thursday’s delays on the route due to one of the corporation’s largest vessels being pulled from service due to repairs, multiple sailing waits are in place on either side of […]
Colin Laird and Harry Cameron Memorial Scholarship
“Western Maritime Institute and the Ferry Workers’ Union are pleased to announce another five-year agreement, sponsoring Ferry Workers who wish to further their careers in the marine industry. The Ferry Workers’ Union and Western Maritime Institutes Colin Laird & Harry Cameron memorial scholarship is part of an ongoing relationship between education and labour to ease the shortage of […]
Ferry workers’ union pushes back against claims ‘absenteeism’ behind service cancellations
The president of the union representing BC Ferries workers says the company’s comments that employee absenteeism led to a handful of service cancellations over the weekend are a “slap in the face.” Several Sunday afternoon and evening sailings were cancelled to and from Salt Spring Island, prompting BC Ferries to call in a water taxi to shuttle […]
BC Ferries invites unvaccinated workers back amid staffing shortage
In the heart of the pandemic, BC Ferries put approximately 150 unvaccinated people on unpaid leave. Now with the federal vaccine mandate lifted, it’s giving those employees a choice. “Now there’s an opportunity for those folks to come back to work, which we’re hoping will provide some relief for the shortage of workers we have,” […]
Unvaccinated BC Ferries workers not to blame for ongoing cancellations: Union
With 150 unvaccinated BC Ferries workers being invited to return to their jobs after the lifting of vaccine mandates, the union representing them is not optimistic that will make much of a difference in ongoing sailing cancellation problems. Between Wednesday, June 22, and Thursday, June 30, people with reservations for 14 sailings on the Queen […]
BC Ferries warns of more summer service disruptions
Just ahead of the busy summer travel season B.C. Ferries is warning of sailing cancellation brought on by staffing shortage. Global News Mornings speaks with B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union President Eric McNeely about the staffing crunch. Read More
Union says burnout, morale an issue as BC Ferries continues to cancel sailings
Father’s Day featured another series of BC Ferries cancellations, once again due to staff shortages. It made for a hectic night for those trying to travel between Victoria and the Lower Mainland. “Normally, this time of year summer vessels are preparing to run more and more and [this year] we’re looking at less and less sailings,” […]