A Brief History of the BC Ferry Marine Workers' Union

In 1958, ferry service between the mainland and Vancouver Island terminals was provided by two lines: Canadian Pacific Steamships (“CPSS”) and Black Ball Ferries Limited. 1958 was a bleak year for the ferry workers on both fleets. The Collective Agreement with the CPSS had expired in September 1957.On May 17, 1958, CPSS employees went on strike. However, their efforts to exert pressure were severely weakened as the Black Ball Ferries’ run continued. Ferry workers employed by Black Ball decided to strike in sympathy with their brothers and sisters and served 72-hour strike notice. It was seven months later, after numerous wildcat strikes, criminal charges, and the invoking of the Civil Defense Act by the Government that a collective agreement was finally entered into in January 1959.

Out of this legacy the Government, in 1960, established the BC Ferry System under the umbrella of the BC Highway and Bridges Toll Authority. Because of the establishment of the BC Ferry System, all ferry workers became Crown employees, appointed under the Public Service Act. As such, they were represented by the British Columbia Government Employees' Association (“BCGEA”), a predecessor to the British Columbia Government Employees' Union (“BCGEU”).

1968 saw management trigger a major work stoppage with the layoff of 160 workers. The strike was settled with a memorandum of understanding between the BC Ferries Division and the BCGEA to create a six-person panel to negotiate and agree on terms and conditions of employment. This marked the first recognition by the Government of the right of ferry workers to organize. In 1974, the BCGEA was recognized by the Government as the sole bargaining agent for Provincial Government workers and became the BCGEU. The structure of the BCGEU established 13 components for separate bargaining with the Government. Eight of these components represented minority groups of ferry workers. The Government reorganized the ferry service on January 1, 1977 as a Crown Corporation. As the new employer was under the scope of the Labour Code, the way was paved for the formation of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union, which reunited the ferry workers as one group.

The founding convention of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union (“BCFMWU”) was held in Victoria in January 1977. With an affiliation agreement in place, the BCGEU turned over jurisdiction of all unlicensed ferry workers to the new Union. Almost immediately, the new Union was faced with negotiating a collective agreement. Negotiations, even with a mediator, were unsuccessful and on October 5, 1977, the way was cleared for strike action. On October 6 the Provincial Cabinet met and invoked the terms of the Railway and Ferries Bargaining Act, effectively removing the right to strike from the Union. Despite the order, the employees refused to work and by midnight October 9, the fleet was shut down. The strike lasted only two days and a mediated settlement was reached after extensive negotiations. On June 17, 1978, the BCFMWU signed our first Collective Agreement. As a result of the walkout, the Government recalled the Legislature and introduced the Essential Service Disputes Act attacking the rights of all public sector employees in the Province, legislation we still live under today.

On April 27, 1979 after two years of legal battles before the Labour Relations Board, a decision was handed down that made the BCFMWU the sole bargaining agent for all ferry workers, including licensed officers. This decision finally brought all ferry workers into one organization.

From this legacy, we have grown into an organization representing over 4,500 working men and
women from Vancouver to Prince George. In 1981, a full-time President’s position was created and several changes were made to the Executive’s structure. Negotiations held major gains for clerical and 12-hour vessels and won double time for overtime. Layoffs were threatened in 1982 and the Winter Manning Agreement was signed. This agreement was the predecessor to our current contract language regarding paid time off (“PTO”). October 1982 saw lay-offs of 270 employees. The impact and bumping rights were felt throughout the fleet as members were forced to move to other areas in order to keep regular work. Other workers elected to stay at their location and revert back to casual status.

1983 saw the introduction of the Social Credit Government’s Restraint Budget. The response from labour in our province was immediate. Rallies of up to 50,000 workers were held to oppose the Government with the BCFMWU taking a leadership role in the communities we lived and worked in. Our Union, even during this period, was successful in negotiating fair wage increases. The decade brought a fair amount of stability for our members with moderate wage increases and enhancements to many areas of the contract, including casual benefits and seniority. In 1995, the NDP Government formed the Public Sector Employer’s Council (“PSEC”), which set up wage control guidelines, which were imposed on all government unions. Many public sector unions quickly agreed to accept the wage controls, but BCFMWU held out and continued to bargain for the greater part of the next four years. Essential services were invoked and limited job action took place. The membership accepted a contract by a slim majority, which met with the PSEC guidelines. Negotiations took place again in 1998 and it was not until 2000 that a new Collective Agreement was signed by the Union. During this time, a number of tentative agreements were reached between the Union and the Corporation but the members of the Union turned each one down.

In 2003, the Liberal Government passed the Coastal Ferry Act which established a holding company intended to put the ferries on the road to privatization inclusive of all services and routes utilizing a service integrator business model fashioned after the Vancouver Airport Authority. On April 1, 2003 legislation was churned out turning BC Ferry Corporation into BC Ferry Services, Inc. Our Union’s fight to combat the results of this CFA began with public awareness campaigns and pressure on the Government through direct lobbying of elected officials and within communities. This effort later became known as the Save Our Ferries Advocacy Group and continues to date.

Shortly after the CFA was legislated, the Union began bargaining with the new company as well as with its newly created maintenance and refit facility, Deas Pacific Marine. When talks were unproductive and eventually broke down at the BC Ferries’ table, response escalated to a fleet wide strike and public protest against the removal of our right to strike to essential service levels which was prompted by the imposition of an Amended Railway and Ferries’ Bargaining Act. After five days of bitter dispute and by mutual Agreement, the parties proceeded to binding arbitration under the oversight of Mr. Vince Ready.

Similarly while the Deas Pacific Marine negotiations were being mediated at the Labour Relations Board, the parent company BC Ferry Services through it chair of the DPMI Board locked out its skilled marine trades workers. The lock out was lifted when the company and the union agreed to new terms and conditions for that bargaining unit.

BC Ferries/BCFMWU Collective Agreement has yet to be completed after five years of negotiations and arbitration however the Ready Final Award substantially forms the basis of the new agreement going into 2012. While the Award reintegrated the employees of Deas Pacific Marine into BC Ferry Services, a number of areas within the new agreement have reduced the historic terms and conditions of work for all Ferry Workers. The Union continues in our fight to regain and achieve enhancements to working conditions for our members within the new company. The Union continues its fight-back against the Coastal Ferry Act and the threats to the integrated public marine highway which is BC Ferries.

This brief summary of the past thirty years only begins to tell you the full story of the personal commitment and involvement of our long-time members and their struggle to survive and strengthen our Union into what it is today. As ferry workers and members of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union, you have the opportunity to enjoy the salaries and benefits won by our members throughout our history. We have moved into a new era at BC Ferries and for our Union. Having affiliated with the International Transport Workers Federation in 2005, renewed our affiliate agreement with our long time friends, the BCGEU, and increased our participation in national and international maritime consultations such as the Canadian Marine Advisory Committee and the International Maritime Organization. With our move to our new home in Nanaimo, B.C. the Ferry Workers are well placed to sustain ourselves for the next thirty years of our growth and development as a professional marine union.