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Labour dispute shutting down Kootenay Lake Ferry
DriveBC reports the Kootenay Lake Ferry will be out of service between Kootenay Bay and Balfour starting Saturday, August 31.
The ferry service will be shut down until further notice, a product of a labour dispute between Western Pacific Marine Ltd. and BC Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU) members.
The ongoing contract negotiations between the BCGEU ferry workers and Western Pacific Marine Ltd., the private ferry operator, have not resulted in a new collective agreement. Following the hearing by the Labour Relations Board, the BCGEU issued 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
The Labour Relations Board order set the essential service levels for Kootenay Lake as three round trips of MV Osprey 2000 on weekdays only, excluding statutory holidays, for select users requiring the service for essential appointments or school. There will be no service on weekends.
Service interruptions are expected to start on Saturday, Aug. 31. For all information relating to service disruptions, people are encouraged to contact the operator, Western Pacific Marine: www.wpm-1.com
The ferry services at Harrop and Glade will remain at normal service levels.
Inland ferry service is delivered by private companies under contract with the province. The Transportation Financing Authority under the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure owns the vessels and terminals, but the employers are private contractors. Western Pacific Marine Ltd. is responsible for the operation of the Kootenay Lake, Glade and Harrop ferries.
The ministry understands the impact this service disruption will have on people travelling through the area. The available detour is via Highway 3 and Highway 6, and drivers should be prepared for additional travel time.
The ministry has updated overhead message boards in Nelson and Creston to reflect the service disruption.
Watch DriveBC for updates.
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