Our union hall will be closed on Monday, May 19 for Victoria Day, but we know many of you will still be out there doing what you always do: showing up, getting the job done, and keeping the coast moving. Statutory holidays look different for ferry and marine workers. While many British Columbians are spending […]
This May 18, on the International Day for Women in Maritime, we celebrate the strength, skill and perseverance of women in maritime. The International Maritime Organization has declared this year’s theme An Ocean of Opportunities for Women, a reminder that women are not just part of the maritime world, they’re helping lead it. On our […]
For two months, passengers with mobility issues have been unable to safely access the upper decks of the Northern Adventure due to a broken elevator. For many, especially those in remote North Coast communities, this vessel is the only connection to health care, family and essential services. Front-line workers are caught in the middle, unable […]
We’ve sent letters to Prime Minister Mark Carney calling for long-overdue federal investment in B.C.’s ferry system. We believe British Columbians deserve equal treatment. Ferries are not a luxury. They are essential public infrastructure. Quick facts: Federal transportation funding Recipient Operating Funds Capital Funds Total Grants Year VIA Rail $381.8 million $184.7 million $566.5 million […]
WorkSafeBC rules say you must be clean-shaven to wear certain respirators. But for some workers—especially Sikh men—shaving isn’t an option because of their faith. Right now, that means they’re being shut out of some jobs, even when safe alternatives exist. That’s not fair, and it’s not necessary. We’re not asking for safety standards to be […]
PRINCE RUPERT – Passengers with disabilities have been forced to crawl up stairs or pay others to carry them aboard BC Ferries’ Northern Adventure, which has been operating without a functioning elevator for nearly 10 weeks. The vessel came out of refit and resumed service February 22 but with the elevator non-operational. The elevator was […]
Our Women’s Committee is hosting a special luncheon in Nanaimo to mark International Women in Maritime Day. Lunch and non-alcoholic refreshments will be served. No RSVP needed—just show up, connect, and celebrate! 📍 Beban Park Lounge C, 2300 Bowen Rd 🕐 1–4 p.m. | All women welcome 🎁 Swag to be won | 💬 Keynote […]
On May 5th, we join people from across the country in observing Red Dress Day, a day to honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited people (MMIWG2S+). Red Dress Day originated from the REDress Project by Métis artist Jamie Black. The red dresses hung in public symbolize the thousands of […]
Local secretary-treasurers are the backbone of our financial operations and their work deserves stronger support. That’s why we’ve launched a monthly virtual support system, aimed at connecting all 20 local treasurers. This space allows them to collaborate with each other and with me to share ideas, build consistency, and strengthen accountability. As the gatekeepers of […]
Congratulations to Prime Minister Carney on forming government. As the national conversation shifts, our focus stays the same: fighting for what matters to our members. That means reliable federal funding for our ferry system, stronger marine safety standards and policies that respect and protect ferry and marine workers. We look forward to working with this […]