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 […]
On May 1, we mark International Workers’ Day—a time to honour the struggles, wins and sacrifices of working people around the world. For generations, workers have organized, marched and fought for the rights many of us rely on today: fair wages, safe conditions, weekends, pensions and the right to a union. At BCFMWU, we stand […]
We are heartbroken by the tragic events at Vancouver’s Lapu-Lapu Day celebration on April 26, where 11 people lost their lives and many more were injured. As a union, we extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected—especially our Filipino members and the broader community. In moments like this, there […]