BC Ferries workers ask for religious exemption from clean-shaven rule
A union representing marine workers is taking BC Ferries to task over one of the company's policies regarding facial hair.
Dan Kimmerly, president of the Ships Officers’ Component of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union, says three employees are looking for religious exemptions from the policy that men must be clean-shaven
"The members that we’re directly representing in this specific instance right now are from the Sikh community," Kimmerly said.
All employees are expected to have clean-shaven faces in case they need to wear masks while fighting fires on the vessel, but Kimmerly says the policy differs depending on where in the company employees are located.
"Captains are usually OK and some chief engineers, as well, depending on the type of vessel that they’re working on," he said. "Shipboard employees is mostly where we see the clean-shaven policy, also in some of the trades."
Kimmerly says marine workers in other companies are permitted the exemption and one of the workers BC Ferries won't allow on a vessel is working elsewhere.
"One of the workers is off working for another company in Canada right now, so they’re able to [be] gainfully employed for another company. However, they would like to work in B.C. for BC Ferries and they can’t," he said.
According to BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall, the regulation surrounding beards actually comes from WorkSafeBC.
"They need to be clean-shaven in order to don a self-contained breathing apparatus and that’s in the event of, say, an engine room that was filled with smoke," she said. "You wouldn’t want somebody to not have a proper seal and facial hair can compromise the seal so it’s actually putting the worker at risk."
Manpreet Singh has been with BC Ferries for four years as a first engineer. He was told to leave the vessel he was working on because of his beard and he initially complied.
"My mother-in-law, my father-in-law they all went against me: 'Why are you clean shaven?'" he said. "I’ve never shaved in my whole life. Even my kids say, 'Why did you shave it?' For bread and butter I have to do it," he said.
Singh says he began refusing to shave and has been off work since February or March of this year. He said he is still being paid his base wage to stay home as opposed to his full salary but he says he wants to sail again.
The 50-year-old says he has worked as an engineer for his entire career, working with American, Middle Eastern and Canadian companies but says BC Ferries appears to be the only one that won’t provide religious exemptions for beards.
"The people on my ship, they all had beards and nobody objects," Singh said. "On the commercial ships in Canada, people are keeping their beards. In [the] Canadian navy, people are keeping [their] beard. Then what’s the difference in BC Ferries?"
British Columbia's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner said it has not received any complaints on the issue so it couldn’t comment on the matter.
Singh says he offered to spend $4,000 of his own money to purchase specialized masks but his offer hasn’t been accepted by BC Ferries.
"I used to work on chemical tankers and oil tankers and they are much more dangerous because there are noxious gases and everything," he said. "We used to keep the beard and put the mask on top."
Singh and the union maintain that medical and religious exemptions should be permitted, especially given the fact BC Ferries is having a hard time finding qualified personnel to work on its vessels.
"All we’re asking for is the company to allow certain exemptions from the policy," Kimmerly said. "There’s usually one [exemption request] ongoing at any one time where somebody is either seeking an accommodation or having their work altered because of either belief or medical [issue]."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.