This author has not written his bio yet.
But we are proud to say that Rachel Garrick contributed 131 entries already.
1. We CAN build them here. Canada has the skilled workers, shipyards and suppliers to build ferries at home. Seaspan alone contributes $4.3 billion to B.C.’s GDP. That’s money for groceries, rent, tools, kids’ sports. Not shipped overseas. Learn more from BC Building Trades. 2. No Canadian bids? Not quite. Two Canadian shipyards pre-qualified, but […]
BC Ferries moves 22 million passengers and 9 million vehicles a year, operates 37 vessels across 25 routes and employs more than 4,500 people across the province. On paper, that size might justify a substantial management team. But the scale and growth of BC Ferries’ corporate structure raise questions. Since 2022, the company has added […]
BC Ferries has confirmed both new Island-class vessels for Route 6 will be homeported in Crofton, not Vesuvius Bay. We strongly oppose this decision. Crews who live on Salt Spring will be forced into long commutes or relocation, and the island’s emergency response capacity will take a hit. “This isn’t better for our members or […]
The union office will be closed Monday, August 5 for the B.C. Day holiday. We’ll reopen Tuesday morning. We know this isn’t a long weekend for most of our members. While others are enjoying the break, you’ll be out there doing some of the hardest work in the system, moving thousands of people, handling emergencies, […]
A few weeks ago, two high-profile incidents of violence against ferry workers made the news. But we know that’s just the tip of the iceberg. On the Spirit of British Columbia, two crew members were assaulted. On the Queen of Cumberland, a passenger with a sledgehammer was arrested at docking. These events made headlines, but […]
When we build ferry terminals or public infrastructure, every public dollar we spend should build our economy. Canadian steel supports thousands of good-paying union jobs (up to 120,000 direct and indirect nationwide). It meets higher environmental and labour standards than imported steel. It keeps our dollars circulating in our communities instead of shipping them overseas. […]
I was working at a little convenience store on Texada Island when a local deckhand came in. She looked at me and said, “We need deckhands. You should apply.” I thought, why not? I got hired on deck as a casual, but I’m a regular ERA now. That means I work in the engine […]
At a recent community forum, BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez made it clear that the plan to homeport both new Route 6 vessels in Crofton is a done deal. This move will remove all vessel-based jobs from the island, adding a two-hour commute for ferry workers. It will force some families to relocate. It will […]
In a new op-ed in the Vancouver Sun, President Eric McNeely responds to BC Ferries’ decision to buy four new vessels from a state-owned shipyard in China. He outlines the real cost of offshoring: lost jobs, lost skills, lost opportunities for Canadian workers, industries and communities. Eric argues that this decision didn’t have to happen. […]
Over a week ago, we wrote to BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez with questions about their procurement practices for steel needed for ferry repairs and terminal upgrades. We asked: • What does BC Ferries’ procurement policy say about sourcing steel for terminal and repair projects? • Are local suppliers and union labour prioritized? • Is […]
11marAll Day13Bargaining Conference 2025
Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, BC
1601 Bayshore Dr., Vancouver, BC V6G 2V4
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