Don’t shrug it off. Report it.

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 the daily abuse, verbal and physical, often goes unreported. Some of you have told us that you’ve started to accept abuse from passengers as a normal part of the job. That’s a problem. 

Your employer has a legal duty to provide a safe work environment. That includes protection from violence and harassment. We need to make sure no incident slips through the cracks.

If you experience or witness violence at work, report it. Every time.

Tell your supervisor. Report to WorkSafeBC. Your report is how we push for change.

As President Eric McNeely has said:

“There’s no room for abuse or violence in our workplaces.”