BC Ferrie labour talks niinue Strike deadline set for July 31 Jan-Christian Sorensen Contributing Writer THE B.C, Ferry and Marine Workers Union (BCFMWU) has set a strike deadline of mid- night tomorrow unless a new collective agree- ment can be reached with BC Ferries. The union represents 4,400 workers on +40 vessels across the province. Workers have been without a contract since the fall of 1998. The union membership has since turned down three separate contract offers, the fase in February of this year. A_ majority of the union membership — over 93% — recently voted in favour of strike action if no collective agreement was reached by July 31. Under the terms of the expired collective agreement, ferry workers earn between $17.38 and $36.09 per hour. Negotiations between the union and the ferry corpora- tion resumed on Wednesday. To press time on Friday, no agreement had yet been reached. “Talks are continuing ... and the corporation remains hopeful that a settlement can be reached,” said BC Ferries’ director of communications Betty Nicholson on Friday. On a union telephone hot- line Wednesday, BCFMWU provincial president Trevor Oram said that “some progress was made” with respect to ship’s officer com- pensation and career develop- ment issues. BC Ferries this week applied. to the Labour Relations Board to class all its * provincial routes as an essen- tial service, A ruling was expected to be handed-down Friday. afternoon. The Jast Labour Relations Board classification of the cor- ’ poration’s routes was issued in the off-season of 1998 when the ferries reduced their ser- vice. If all BC Ferries routes are deemed essential services the threat of job action would be eliminated. A thio of ferries sails out of Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, Bowen Island and the Sunshine Coast. The vessels make 72 runs a day during the peak summer season, Dan Sewell, owner of Sewell’s Marina in Horseshoe Bay, said he has) concerns about the impact a strike would have on the tourist trade on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast — as well as visitors’ impressions of the province as a tourist destina- tion. “My biggest concern as a British Columbian would be the tourist traffic — that Langdale and Sechelt will not realize and the traffic that Vancouver Island won't real- ize. With the hotel strike and everything else that’s going on in B.C. right now this is not the kind of image we want to be portraying. “I would hope that che parties could find a way to find a solution without mov- ing to strike mandate.” Sewell remained confident, however, that Horseshoe Bay could compensate for possible decreased sailings with tourist dollars. “Horseshoe Bay is a major destination in the Lower Mainland, so as far as business NEWS photo Cindy Goodman DAN Sewell, owner of Sewell’s Marina in Horseshoe Bay, believes increased tourist dollars may help offset a strike by the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union. A strike deadline has been set for tomorrow at midnight. goes we probably could luck out and offset the ferry traffic with enough tourist traffic that the restaurants and some of the coffee shops would not feel any impact,” he said. BC Ferries has raised hack- les in the Horseshoe Bay area with its latest $30-million expansion scheme for its facil- ities there. Residents have voiced opposition to the cor- poration’s plans to expand traffic holding lanes, build an underground parking com- pound, a new ferry mainte- nance building and facility for walk-on traffic. Contract talks were slated to continue throughout the weekend. » SLEEP ON meh: he 267 €. Ist., H.Van FACTORY FUTOR sai. t-bom sniay espn 984-4504 Entrance in reartane = Hon.- 061 ' (naide Skyline Sports) “266-4 we starting your financial journey, a secure retirement may seem a long way away. But like * many goals in life. one step can bring it closer. With the help of an Investment Professional and Fidelity Investments’ full family of mutual funds, it’s easy to get off to a good start. Simply put a small amount into your RRSP. Contribute on a regular basis and your assets will accumulate and compound over the years. We understand that each person has a unique dream for the future. 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