BC Ferries and Marine Workers Union president Eric McNeely is expressing increased frustration regarding their relationship with his member's employer. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

rough seas

‘Functionally broken:’ union boss sounds off on sour relationship with BC Ferries

Nov 7, 2023 | 2:38 PM

NANAIMO — Claiming BC Ferries is ignoring a contractually enshrined overtime provision, the union president representing 4,000 employees says an ongoing conflict is compounding already low morale.

Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union, issued a memo to its members last week, stating their grievance has been denied by the employer.

While overtime compensation is being adhered to, McNeely said their entitled Premium Overtime Rate of additional benefits, including a pay boost, is no longer being provided.

“People will be less likely to accept overtime or stay for that extra long day and that could have an impact on the reliability or frequency of sailings. I think that is where the public has an interest,” McNeely told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Section 18.03 of the existing collective bargaining agreement for BC Ferries employees. (BC Ferry & Marine Workers Union)

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He said this year BC Ferries added several new members to it’s management team, resulting in a shift in how their Premium Overtime Rate was interpreted.

McNeely said employees assigned to routes in and out of Nanaimo are among those impacted, with the issue “coming to a head” during the summer.

“BC Ferries as a function of a business runs on overtime, there’s always people on overtime,” McNeely said.

He said a survey of nearly 2,000 of their members taken earlier this year highlights how they can’t afford to be leaving money on the table.

“I think it was 51.6 per cent of our respondents from the union said they had taken secondary work to supplement their income,” he said, adding employees continue to be negatively impacted by verbal abuse from customers regarding canceled or delayed sailings.

He said their union is filing for arbitration to recoup funds lost by their members and for the Premium Overtime Rate provision to be respected moving forward.

“I think the labour relations piece between the employer and the union is functionally broken to the point where several weeks ago I had phone call with Nicolas Jimenez (BC Ferries CEO) and suggested that we have some kind of relationship building course or session between my staff and his staff.”

NanaimoNewsNOW is awaiting comment from BC Ferries regarding McNeely’s concerns.

The existing collective bargaining agreement for BC Ferries employees expires on Oct. 31, 2025.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes