Unvaccinated BC Ferries workers not to blame for ongoing cancellations: Union
With 150 unvaccinated BC Ferries workers being invited to return to their jobs after the lifting of vaccine mandates, the union representing them is not optimistic that will make much of a difference in ongoing sailing cancellation problems.
Between Wednesday, June 22, and Thursday, June 30, people with reservations for 14 sailings on the Queen of Coquitlam will be forced to make alternative plans due to cancellations.
It’s just the latest in a string of scrapped sailings and frustrations are mounting as the busy summer travel season is already underway and demand is high.
BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union President Eric McNeely says the staffing crunch is much, much bigger than 150 people.
“We’re looking at almost three years’ worth of retirements occurring and the recruitment hasn’t kept pace with that. And also we’re having members who are leaving to more competitive marine carriers, in some cases 12 or 15 year employees are deciding now’s the right time to go somewhere else,” McNeely said.
