BC Ferries Issues Statement on PCL

BC Ferries issued a statement Dec. 17, to clarify and inform its customers on the status of the Pacific Coach Lines (PCL).

PCL currently provides cross water bus service on the route between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. PCL and its employees, represented by Unifor, are presently negotiating a new Collective Agreement.

In the event of a dispute between PCL and Unifor, BC Ferries has been advised by PCL that they will not operate or provide bus service. That is, they will not be conducting any business on BC Ferries’ property.

As a result, BC Ferries’ position is that any form of picketing activities by Unifor at or near BC Ferries’ terminals would be illegal. In the event of illegal picketing activity, BC Ferries would take all the necessary steps to ensure continued operation.

BC Ferries is committed to providing its employees with uninterrupted access to their worksite and uninterrupted ferry service to the travelling public.

At this point in time, it is BC Ferries’ understanding that Unifor has not issued PCL with 72-hour strike notice.

It’s important to note that this dispute is not between BC Ferries and the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union. This is a third-party labour issue.