As summer temperatures rise, heat becomes a workplace safety issue. 🥵

For ferry and marine workers, heat exposure can look different depending on the job. It could mean working on deck in direct sun, loading and unloading vehicles, directing traffic in terminals, working in engine spaces or spending long shifts in hot indoor environments such as galleys, kitchens, retail areas and enclosed workspaces.

Heat can affect your concentration, reaction time and physical performance before you realize you’re becoming overheated.

Symptoms of heat stress can include heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, fatigue and muscle cramps. Left unchecked, heat illness can become serious.

There are practical steps workers can take to reduce risk.

Drink water regularly throughout the shift, don’t wait until you feel thirsty. Use cooler or shaded areas when available and take opportunities to cool down.

Pay attention to how you feel and check in with crewmates, especially during long shifts or periods of high temperatures.

WorkSafeBC rules require employers to assess heat risks where workers may be exposed to harmful heat conditions and to put controls in place to reduce exposure.

That can include providing access to cool drinking water, adjusting work practices, allowing time for recovery and responding when workers show signs of heat stress.

If conditions feel unsafe, speak with your supervisor and follow workplace reporting processes.

Looking after yourself and each other is part of getting the job done and getting home safe. 🌡️

Ever wondered who handles grievances, who makes decisions or what your local executive does?

BCFMWU is member-led. That means members choose who represents them and have a say in the work and direction of the union through meetings, elections and participation.

Here’s a quick look at how it works.

Shop stewards

Members who volunteer to support their coworkers at the workplace level are called shop stewards. They’re often your first point of contact if you have questions or concerns.

Shop stewards listen, investigate concerns, document issues and help support members through workplace problems. They may attend meetings with members, take notes, assist with grievances and help connect members with the right union support when needed.

If your employer asks to meet about a problem at work or possible discipline, you can ask a shop steward to come with you. Your shop steward can document what was said in the meeting and support you through the process.

Locals and components

Members belong to a local or component based on their workplace or bargaining unit.  Each local or component elects executives to raise workplace concerns and support shop stewards and connect each local to the broader union.  Local executives are volunteers who take on these responsibilities in addition to their regular jobs. Their commitment helps keep each local and component connected and well-represented in the union.

Provincial Executive

This is the union’s governing body between conventions, made up of elected representatives from across your union. They meet monthly to raise issues from members, discuss priorities and make decisions between conventions. Executive members take on significant responsibilities and help connect member concerns to union decision-making and priorities throughout the year.

Committees and working groups

These are another way to get involved in your union. These groups give members opportunities to share ideas, raise issues and contribute to projects and areas of work across the union.

Staff and labour relations support

BCFMWU staff support the day-to-day work of the union, including bargaining, member representation, communications, administration and operations.

Labour Relations Officers (LROs) work closely with members and elected leaders on collective agreements, grievances, bargaining and other workplace issues. They also play an important role in member and steward education and help members understand their rights and navigate workplace challenges.

Administrative and operations staff support members and elected leadership through member services, governance and election processes, meeting and event coordination, financial administration and operational support. They help manage the systems and records that keep the union running.

Convention

This is where BCFMWU gets direction from members. Delegates from across the union come together to review the work of the union, debate and vote on union direction, elect leadership positions and help set priorities for the years ahead.

A member-driven union

BCFMWU only exists because members participate. Whether that means attending a local meeting, putting your name forward for an elected position, voting or simply making sure you stay informed, every member plays a role in building a stronger union.

Want to learn more?

Constitution and bylaws

Committee pages

Elected executive

Your local notices

Marine and ferry work can be physically demanding. Years working on deck, in engine rooms, terminals, catering operations and trades and maintenance shops can take a toll.

June 1 is Injured Workers’ Day, a day to recognize the challenges injured workers face and to push for better support and fair treatment.

This year, the focus is on chronic pain. Chronic pain affects millions of Canadians and is one of the most common long-term outcomes of workplace injuries. Workers with job-related injuries are significantly more likely to experience chronic pain, which can affect mobility, sleep, mental health, family life and the ability to work.

The BC Federation of Labour is calling for improvements to how chronic pain is treated and compensated, including earlier intervention, ongoing treatment and fair compensation that reflects workers’ individual circumstances.

The BCFED is also hosting a series of free lunch-and-learn webinars throughout June focused on chronic pain, injured worker advocacy and WorkSafeBC policy.

Sign the BCFED petition here.

Find help with chronic pain at Pain BC.

 

 

We’re supporting a non-partisan petition asking the federal government to review reciprocal arrangements under the Canada Shipping Act and pause further expansion while that review takes place.

Reciprocal arrangements allow foreign-certified mariners to work in Canada without completing the full Canadian certification process.

These arrangements can help address immediate labour shortages, but aren’t a substitute for long-term investment in marine training, certification pathways and workforce development here at home.

Canada’s marine sector is facing serious workforce pressures. Thousands of new seafarers will be needed in the coming years and Canada’s marine training institutions are under strain and can’t keep up. Marine labour shortages affect more than ferry operations. They reduce economic output, constrain exports, increase transportation pressure and contribute to slow growth in coastal industries.

Workers currently operating under reciprocal arrangements are valued members of our workforce and our union. But we need to challenge a system that allows employers and government to rely on external labour while not doing enough to train, certify and support mariners here in Canada.

The petition asks the federal government to establish a more transparent and accountable framework, one that supports Canadian workforce development, training capacity, safety and marine sovereignty.

The union believes reciprocal arrangements should supplement workforce needs during shortages, not replace long-term investment in Canada’s marine workforce.

Any future changes to the system must be fair, transparent and include appropriate transition measures for workers already employed under valid reciprocal arrangements.

Add your name to the petition here.