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No potential changes to Harrop, Glade ferry crossings until February

The B.C. Labour Relations Board has not yet scheduled hearing dates to reconsider service cuts
harrop
Harrop and Procter residents gathered to protest the ferry strike on Jan. 1

A ruling on the possible reduction of sailings at the Harrop and Glade cable ferries due to an ongoing labour battle won't occur until February.

The B.C. Labour Relations Board has not yet scheduled hearing dates after Western Pacific Marine, which operates the two ferries, successfully applied Jan. 5 for a reconsideration of a December labour board order that would have cut crossings and set criteria limiting who could be a passenger.

Odai Sirri, general manager of Western Pacific Marine, said in a Jan. 16 update the board has proposed Feb. 4, 12, 13 and 14 as hearing dates. Sirri added mediation between the company and B.C. General Employees Union continued this week.

The initial essential service order issued Dec. 27 was in favour of the union, which represents 80 members working on the Harrop, Glade and Kootenay Lake crossings and has been on strike since Nov. 3.

Under that order, Harrop would be restricted from 24-7 service to eight round trips daily, while Glade would be cut to 16 round trips. The ferries are the only access route to the communities of Harrop, Procter and Glade.

Passengers meanwhile were to be limited to students attending classes and their parents for drop-offs and pick-ups, teachers and school administrators, emergency services and health professionals, people who could prove they have medical appointments, snow removal vehicles, people responding to mental and physical health emergencies, and vendors making scheduled deliveries to the Procter General Store.

Ferry service has instead continued as normal while the union and company wait for the new hearing.



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