BC Ferries, Union Ratify Agreement

BC Ferries announced the company and union have ratified the Memorandum of Agreement that was reached on Oct. 30.

“The five-year agreement provides for fair and modest wage and benefit increases for our employees while continuing to provide an efficient and dependable service. This agreement will mark 17 years of labour stability at BC Ferries,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ president and CEO. “We had a very productive round of bargaining with the Union, which included meaningful dialogue and negotiations. We thank the bargaining teams on both sides for their collaborative efforts.”

The settlement took several months of extensive negotiations between the Company and Union representatives, and was achieved before the Oct. 31, expiration of the previous Collective Agreement. On Nov. 10, the Union’s Provincial Executive and Ships' Officers' Component Executive endorsed the Tentative Agreement for ratification by the membership.

Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia.

Quick Facts:

• The Collective Agreement provides for 8.55 per cent in wage increases over the five-year term of agreement, which is 1.71 per cent on average per year.
• The terms of the new Collective Agreement are in place from Oct. 31, through Oct. 31, 2020.
• Approximately 3500 employees are covered by Collective Agreement as members of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union.