BC Ferries report foresees possible recession, challenges with worker retention
A new report from BC Ferries to the independent Office of the BC Ferries Commissioner highlights significant challenges for the service, including a possible recession and difficulty recruiting and retaining employees.
"Morale is quite low because of the fact that people's lives are being affected significantly by the job," said Dan Kimmerly, president of the Ships Officers' Component with the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union.
An updated report from BC Ferries to the BC Ferries Commissioner, which is an independent regulator that oversees BC Ferries operations, forecasts a recession in 2024, leading to declining revenue.
The report also notes the operator is struggling to maintain staff.
"Non-scheduled overtime has steadily increased for the last year and a bit," said Kimmerly.
"And then you also see the absenteeism, or people not being able to make it to work, because they're either fatigued" or unable to keep up with all the extra overtime, he said.
Almost 700 BC Ferries sailings were cancelled due to crew shortages from April through November last year.
BC Ferries says attracting staff is key to keeping vessels sailing.
In a statement, BC Ferries CFO Jill Sharland said that a shortage of skilled marine workers is a "global problem."
For BC Ferries, the shortage "is heightened by a widening gap between what we're able to pay and market benchmarks," she said.
In late February, the province announced it was providing BC Ferries with $500 million to help keep fares from rising.
B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said "without intervention, the fare hikes required to fund BC Ferries' submission would be over 10 per cent, and that's just not acceptable."
Kimmerly says he hopes that funding will not be wasted and will be "put into the development of employees."
The union says creating a competitive workplace to attract new staff might be what keeps the ferries coming in on time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.