Entries by Rachel Garrick

Standing together: Celebrating Filipino culture in the face of tragedy

On Monday, our union proudly joined the Victoria Day Parade with a decorated truck in support of Mabuhay!, an annual celebration of Filipino culture and community. Members, families and friends came together to celebrate and show our solidarity with the Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society and the broader Filipino community. This year’s parade appearance carried […]

Victoria Day closure: We see you. We thank you.

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 […]

An ocean of opportunities for women: celebrating women in maritime

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 […]

Union calls out BC Ferries over months-long accessibility failure

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 […]

It’s time for fair ferry funding across Canada

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 vital 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 […]

We can be safe and inclusive, too

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 […]

International Women in Maritime Day lunch

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 […]

Red dresses, real lives: We remember

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 […]

Supporting our local treasurer teams

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 […]