Concerns Rise as Tiny Towns in Southeast B.C. Face Ferry Service Disruptions

A growing sense of anxiety is developing among the small communities located around Kootenay Lake in southeast British Columbia. These towns are worried about being isolated from their neighbors and job opportunities due to a ferry service labor dispute, according to local business owner Melinda Foot.

The West Kootenay communities of Harrop, Procter, and Glade are at risk of reduced ferry services following a recent ruling by the B.C. Labour Relations Board. This ruling allows the union representing ferry workers to escalate their strike, which has already affected sailings on the main ferry routes on Kootenay Lake.

For some residents, the alternative to the cable ferry, which makes a short crossing only a few hundred meters across the lake, would require a lengthy drive that could last hours. Others worry they might face complete isolation.

“Everybody’s panicked here,” said Foot, who co-owns the Procter General Store. “It’s a five-minute crossing that connects us to our other communities, like Nelson and Balfour. This ferry is our only way out; we have no back roads or logging roads available. We are reliant on this small convenience store.”

Workers of the B.C. General Employees’ Union have been on strike since November 3, advocating for wage increases, better scheduling, and enhanced benefits for auxiliary staff at their employer, Western Pacific Marine.

Recently, the labour board granted permission for the union to reduce the service levels for the Harrop-Procter ferry to eight round trips per day and to 16 for the Glade ferry. This change is effective immediately.

Normally, the Harrop ferry operates on a 24-hour basis, and the Glade ferry follows a regular schedule running from 5 a.m. to 2:20 a.m. Western Pacific Marine has stated that the ferries will operate under the usual schedule until January 2. They plan to announce a new schedule for January and beyond.

Foot expressed her frustrations, explaining, “They keep telling us there will be a schedule of eight crossings, but they haven’t provided us with the actual schedule. People are scared of losing their jobs and trying to navigate the water in the dark during January.”

Approximately 600 people reside in the Harrop-Procter area, while around 300 live in Glade. The labour board’s decision to grant the union's request for service level adjustments acknowledges the potential impact on these communities but aims to safeguard their health and welfare.

The associate chair of the labour board, Andres Barker, mentioned in a 15-page ruling that while the adjustments might inconvenience residents, they are necessary to prevent significant risks to their health and safety. Changes to the essential service order will lead to economic impacts and require residents to plan their travel times like typical ferry services, instead of the previous free access.

While the community remains on edge, uncertainty lingers regarding the ferry service and the implications it holds for their way of life.

ferry, dispute, communities