Showing 5 results

News item. B.C. Ferry workers have been without a contract since 01-July-1975. Union spokesman says that the problem is getting the BC Ferries management board back to the bargaining table. He singles out Dan Gallagher who has apparently been to the Labour Relations Board to try to get a strike vote by the Ferries employees declared illegal. Transportation Minister Jack Davis has "buried his head in the sand" over the whole issue, says union spokesman.

News item. Strike is being staged by members of the Ferry and Marine Workers Union, the CLC, and the BC Federation of Labour. Negotiations have been stalled since 01-July-1977, so employees have been without a contract since then. Labour Minister Allen Williams calls the walkout "irresponsible" and says employees could still receive pay if they agreed to continue working while negotiations continued through "the railways and ferries bargaining association." The B.C. government has declared the strike illegal, and threatens to fine strikers and their union if they continue to defy the back-to-work order. A union spokeswoman comments on how long the strike could last. Other ferry service and local airlines are doing a booming business with extra sailings and flights.

News item. A return to work injunction is brought against the strikers by order of the Lieutenant-Govenor in council, and the decision of the Labour Relations Board, forcing the union to give notice that the strike is suspended. Union members went voted against the recommendations of the executive, so they still do not have a contract.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Press conference on aspects of the Captain Cook bicentennial celebrations, etc. RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1977-11-16 SUMMARY: In a press conference in Victoria on November 16, 1977, Travel Industry Minister Grace McCarthy discusses possible ferry fare increases (in the wake of salary increases to ferry workers); aspects of the Captain Cook bicentennial celebrations; the possible strike vote by Amalgamated Transit Union workers at BC Hydro; and encouraging BC residents to holiday in the province. NOTE: TRANSCRIPT ONLY.

CALL NUMBER: T4240:0001 - 0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union history project : John Palmer RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1986-02-11 SUMMARY: An oral history interview with John Palmer about the history of the British Columbia Ferry and Marine Workers' Union. [No content summaries available for these two tapes.] CALL NUMBER: T4240:0003 track 1 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union history project : John Palmer RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1986-02-11 SUMMARY: An oral history interview with John Palmer about the history of the British Columbia Ferry and Marine Workers' Union. [No content summary available for this track.] CALL NUMBER: T4240:0003 [track 2?] SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union history project : John Palmer RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1986-02-25 SUMMARY: John Palmer discusses events in the history of the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union. 1966: elections of original Executive; Norm Thornber's initial appointment; George Hornett's assumption of presidency from Jack Medforth. 1967: membership drive; application by Hornett and Thornber for charter from the Canadian Labour Congress; relationship between BC Government Employee's Association/Union and the Ferry Workers' Union. 1968: B.C. Ferries under Department of Highways; Highways Minister Phil Gaglardi; February strike was first total shutdown (causes, events, results). CALL NUMBER: T4240:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union history project : John Palmer RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), [1986-02-25?] SUMMARY: John Palmer discusses the terms of the 1968 Memorandum of Understanding (terms), signed as a result of the 1968 strike; alleged to be first contract signed with civil servants in Canada. Ray Whitehead, table officer and business agent, becomes involved with union. John Fryer becomes the head of the BC Government Employees' Union. 1970 collision in Active Pass between ferry "Queen of Victoria" and the Russian freighter "Sergey Yesenin"; recollections of that incident. Leo Gray appointed as business agent. Norm Thornber's relationship vis-a-vis the table officers, heading to union trusteeship. Trusteeship under Canadian Labour Congress rep Dick Larson. Bargaining procedures, 1968-72. 1973: First ferry strike -- reasons, events, results. 1974 contract; conditions and terms. 1975: disposition; of the two business agents, Norm Thornber and Leo Gray. CALL NUMBER: T4240:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union history project : John Palmer RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1986-02-25 SUMMARY: John Palmer discusses the effect on B.C. Ferries of the defeat of the NDP government by the Social Credit Party in December 1975. 1976: Transport Minister Jack Davis lays off 400 ferry workers, closes dining rooms on ferries. 1977: B.C. Ferries made a Crown Corporation; all ferry workers reorganized into one component; basic changes to constitution re: election of table officers; George Hornett defeated for presidency and Shirley Mathieson elected; the end of the era. General summation. (End of interview)