Hullo Ferries workers will vote on strike action

The BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union (BCFMWU) announced that its members at Hullo Ferries will vote to strike.

The union says that the private foot-passenger-only ferry service has not negotiated a contract with its workers yet, even though the BCFMWU started to make the first offer almost a year ago.

This offer included a contract proposal for wages and benefits.

“For nearly a year now, and for the vast majority of 2025, we’ve been negotiating with Hullo Ferries management for the first collective agreement,” said Eric McNeely, president of the BCFMWU, in an interview with 1130 NewsRadio.

“After nearly a year of waiting for an agreement, they’ve been left with no choice,” he added.

McNeely says that Hullo Ferries has made one counterproposal in the meantime.

“For the last couple of months, the employer didn’t provide any counters. Yesterday, the employer did provide a counter, and in the evening, the union provided a counter proposal to the employer’s proposal, at which time the employer declared impasse, effectively leaving the bargaining table.”

According to BCFMWU, declaring a bargaining impasse is “forcing the union to take a strike vote.”

“Declaring impasse after so little movement is a sign the employer isn’t serious about reaching a fair deal,” explained McNeely.

The union expects the first results of the vote next week.

“The vote is open right now, and that will be open until Tuesday. So we expect the results mid next week,” McNeely said.

He assures that travel over Labour Day Weekend will not be affected.

“Their travel will not be impacted this weekend.”

McNeely hopes to get the employer back to the bargaining table. 

“The employer needs to come back to the table and bargain in good faith.”

“The union is prepared, and the members of the negotiating committee who work at Hullo Ferries are all prepared to continue negotiations. But we can’t do that by ourselves.”

The workers decided to join the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union in September last year.

Hullo Ferries offers sailings between downtown Vancouver and downtown Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and commenced operations in August 2023.

The union says it currently represents 86 workers at Hullo Ferries.

1130 NewsRadio has reached out to Hullo Ferries for further information.