British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.'s customer service centre will be open fewer hours during the higher traffic summer season if planned cuts go ahead.
“The company is saying they're going to change hours of work, but we're still in discussions with the company on that,” said Richard Goode, president of the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers' Union. “It'll be less service, I would imagine.”
A B.C. Ferries spokesperson did not return a call by posting time.
Workers in the customer service centre in Victoria provide information and take reservations over the phone. The centre is now open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week.
Starting April 1 the company plans to close it at 8 p.m. on weekdays and at 6 p.m. on the weekend.
Goode said the proposal to close the centre early is related to the recently announced cut of 23 union positions at the provincial government owned private company.
Under the company's agreement with the BCFMWU it has to consult the union before cutting hours, said Goode. The union just got official notice of the plan recently, he said. “We haven't made up our minds exactly what's going to happen,” he said.
The centre remains busy, he said. “We believe they're still getting the same amount of calls.”
The job cuts, along with the earlier announced cut of 35 management positions, have been blamed by the company on the weakening economy and a drop in ferry passenger and vehicle traffic. Said Goode, “I don't see the upturn of ridership for a long time.”
Fares are set to increase on April 1 by 3.74 percent on the major routes and 7.25 percent on other routes.
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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RickW
2 years ago
Same old, same old...........
They want the ridership to be there before offering service. Whereas the ridership WOULD be there, if there was service.
(and by service, I also include reasonable fares for essential public service transportation)
Van Isle
2 years ago
Was talking to a ferry
Was talking to a ferry employee last week and he said that all the people that the Ferries have let go so far, have been replaced with security people.
sunshine coast girl
2 years ago
You're right Richard...
ridership will not be going up for a long time and BC Ferries is guaranteeing that by continuing to raise fares. What a bunch of dorks!!
RickW
2 years ago
sscg....
Maybe not (in their warped way of "thinking").......how better to show that "a little competition" is what the ferry serice needs, then to arrange for service to deteriorate? And you know how this government loves to give the impression of competition!
Rod Smelser
2 years ago
Why does that sound so believable?
Van Isle
Was talking to a ferry employee last week and he said that all the people that the Ferries have let go so far, have been replaced with security people.
I can just picture that. It wouldn't happen to be Leo Knight's Palladin Security who's getting all the contract security work, would it?
DPL
2 years ago
WAC Bennett started the
WAC Bennett started the fleet so companies coudn't run the system. Look what we have now? Some US of A citizen is running it down to a poor system. Costs up ,service down, new out of country built ships burn more fuel and shake folks windows and crack their homes' foundations. Great deal for someone but not BC citizens
DJT
2 years ago
'....how better to show that
'....how better to show that "a little competition" is what the ferry serice needs, then to arrange for service to deteriorate'?
I wouldn't be at all surprised if you've hit the nail right on the head, RickW. Not that Campbell would ever entertain privatizing the system, or anything.