BC Ferries and the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union have announced the ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement they reached on Oct. 22.
“The agreement negotiated between the parties has been accepted by our membership,” said Graeme Johnston, BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union President. “Our Union acknowledges we are in difficult times, and we are hopeful our commitment to helping the ferry system weather these difficult times will be recognized in better times come the wage reopeners.”
The settlement took several months of extensive negotiations between the Company and Union representatives, and was achieved before the Oct. 31, 2020 expiration of the previous Collective Agreement.
“The five-year agreement provides for fair and modest wage and benefit increases for our valuable employees, while continuing to provide an efficient and dependable service. This agreement will mark 22 years of labour stability at BC Ferries,” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “We had a very productive round of bargaining with the Union, including both meaningful dialogue and negotiations. We thank the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union for a collaborative and professional process. The company extends its thanks to employees for their commitment to helping the ferry system weather these difficult times.”
The Collective Agreement provides for wage increases of 0 per cent, 2 per cent and 2 per cent over the first three years of the agreement, with years four and five having wage re-openers.
The term of the new Collective Agreement is from Oct. 31, 2020 through Oct. 31, 2025.
Approximately 4,000 employees are covered by Collective Agreement as members of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union.
