West Kootenay Ferry operations could shut down as early as tomorrow with a decision to be determined this afternoon.
The BC General Employees Union issued a 72-hour strike notice to Western Pacific Marine and WaterBridge Ferries on September 23.
In response to the notice, WaterBridge issued a 72-hour lockout notice to its 90 employees on September 24, which could come into effect Friday morning, pending a decision from the BC Labour Board following a public hearing Thursday afternoon.
“We’re expecting to have a hearing today at the Labour Board, and that will determine what the essential service levels are. Basically, we’ll kind of dictate what happens next for the ferries,” said BCGEU spokesperson Susan Howatt.
Western Pacific has yet to issue a lockout notice, but Howatt says the decision of the Labour Board this afternoon will determine what actions are taken next.
“We’ll be ready to go as soon as the Labour Board meets, and we’ll provide updates to both our members and the public as soon as possible.”
The strike notices was issued after months of negotiations over a collective agreement stalled, with the BCGEU calling for competitive wages to stabilize staffing and ensure sustainable service.
Updates can be found here.
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