Unvaccinated BC Ferries workers not to blame for ongoing cancellations: Union

With 150 unvaccinated BC Ferries workers being invited to return to their jobs after the lifting of vaccine mandates, the union representing them is not optimistic that will make much of a difference in ongoing sailing cancellation problems.

Between Wednesday, June 22, and Thursday, June 30, people with reservations for 14 sailings on the Queen of Coquitlam will be forced to make alternative plans due to cancellations.

It’s just the latest in a string of scrapped sailings and frustrations are mounting as the busy summer travel season is already underway and demand is high.

BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union President Eric McNeely says the staffing crunch is much, much bigger than 150 people.

“We’re looking at almost three years’ worth of retirements occurring and the recruitment hasn’t kept pace with that. And also we’re having members who are leaving to more competitive marine carriers, in some cases 12 or 15 year employees are deciding now’s the right time to go somewhere else,” McNeely said.

He says those competing employers are tug boat companies and commercial ferry businesses, which carry cargo, such as Seaspan Marine.

“Someone could leave BC Ferries and go work for a competitor make probably $20,000 to $30,000 a year more,” he explained.

“For example, for a deckhand at BC Ferries, you’re looking at probably a base salary of around $50,000 to $55,000 and a potential income of maybe $70-75,000 depending on overtime and where you work, differentials, and stuff like that,” McNeely continued. “Seaspan, for example, is roughly $15,000 more per year for your base salary to $20,000, depending on where you are. And then opportunities for overtime increase that difference by about $30,000.”

He notes many workers prefer BC Ferries and like their coworkers, but with inflation and B.C.’s housing market continuing to put strain on some, it’s often too difficult to pass up another opportunity.

McNeely says when it comes down to it, a trained mariner is in such high demand right now that many aren’t choosing BC Ferries. He’s urging the company to be more competitive, adding many BC Ferries workers would love to be trained up in order to fulfil the roles that are required by Transport Canada for ships to sail.

“I think there’s plenty of people who are willing to take up the mantle and get that education. What are the challenges? The availability of the education and then the availability if you have time off,” he said.

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• BC Ferries passengers left confused after cancellations were cancelled

BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall says recruitment is ongoing.

“We’ve recruited approximately 850 new employees and continue our efforts,” she said.

At the end of May, BC Ferries was even offering a significant signing bonus of $10,000 for some roles to encourage mariners to join the team.

However, the company continues to state that it is not only competing locally. It says the world is seeing a mariner shortage, with many other companies also facing the same woes.

As for those passengers impacted by the cancellations, BC Ferries says the Customer Service Centre will contact those with reservations to let them know if they have space on another sailing later in the day, or issue a refund.