B.C. government appoints special mediator in Kootenay Lake ferry strike

The B.C. government has appointed a special mediator in a bid to resolve a months-long labour dispute between the workers and operator of the Kootenay Lake ferries.

Employees represented by the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) have been in some form of job action since October, and officially went on strike on Nov. 3, reducing the daily ferries to essential service levels only.

Private company Western Pacific Marine operates the Kootenay Bay to Balfour ferry route across the lake, as well as cable ferries to and from the communities of Harrop, Procter and Glade, under contract by the B.C. government.

The two sides in the labour dispute have been at odds for months, with the BCGEU recently filing a complaint with the Labour Relations Board and accusing Western Pacific of bad faith bargaining.

WATCH | Kootenay ferry job action to escalate: 

Kootenay residents worried as striking ferry workers propose to further restrict service

4 months ago

Duration 2:27

Some Kootenay Lake residents are concerned after the union representing striking inland ferry workers applied to extend the job action to the Harrop and Glade cable ferries. The move would further restrict access to the communities. Corey Bullock reports.

The company denied those allegations in a statement, saying its wage proposals have remained consistent and were in direct response to the union's proposals.

In a bid to resolve the job action that has left many residents of the area frustrated and stranded, the B.C. government has now appointed veteran labour mediator Vince Ready to work with the union and company and potentially resolve the strike.

"Mr. Ready will begin work immediately to reach a settlement," read a statement from Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside on Sunday.

"If a settlement is not reached between the parties within 14 days, he will issue recommendations to the minister and the parties."

The appointment of Ready was welcomed by the BCGEU, with president Paul Finch saying he was pleased the government recognized the importance of resolving the job action quickly.

"Our union will provide all of the information necessary for the mediator to perform their role, and we encourage Western Pacific Marine to do the same," he said in a statement.

WATCH | Residents stage protest as strike goes on: 

Kootenay Lake residents fed up with ferry job action

6 months ago

Duration 2:02

Residents on the east shore of Kootenay Lake held a protest Friday morning as job action continues to cut off their ferry route across the lake. As Corey Bullock reports, emotions are already high less than a week into the strike.

In a statement sent before Sunday's announcement, Western Pacific general manager Odai Sirri said the company preferred binding arbitration to resolve the dispute, something vehemently opposed by the union.

"While we support the Special Mediation process, we still believe that binding arbitration would provide the quickest, most equitable resolution by relying on facts rather than rhetoric," he said.

Concern over road closures

Those who take the Kootenay Lake ferry, from Balfour or Kootenay Bay, can take Highway 3A to other communities.

However, the Kootenay Pass section of Highway 3A is frequently closed during the cold months due to avalanche control work.

LISTEN | Senior takes long detour due to ferry strike: 

Radio West13:32Kootenay Lake Ferry users are becoming increasingly frustrated

Issy Snelgrove of Crawford Bay says ferry service disruptions, combined with avalanche control work in Kootenay Pass, is harming businesses, workers, and seniors.

Issy Snelgrove, 85, recently had to take a nearly three-hour-long detour on the highway due to the ferry going off service sooner than she expected.

The Crawford Bay resident said she faced major issues with ferry availability when her daughter had to go to Trail, B.C., for surgery the day after the strike began, and she knows others with health conditions who are unsure how to plan their lives due to the uncertainty around the vital transport link.

"The union, the labour board and Western Pacific Marine  — it's like they're little kids playing a game and all trying to get the same answer," the senior said.

For residents in Harrop, Procter and Glade, there is no alternative to the cable ferry.

About 600 people live in the Harrop-Procter area, and about 300 people live in Glade.