“Slapped” Islanders protest ferry pay raises
By Bruce Mason, Gabriola Sounder
Monday, April 28 2008
There were two BC Ferries increases on April Fool’s Day: for passengers, a fare increase and for the board of directors, a 60 per cent pay raise.
Gulf Island residents are protesting both, including on Gabriola, Thursday, May 1st.
In the meantime, there is growing concern about privatization of minor routes.
In a Notice to the Public on page 10 in last week’s Sounder - which most residents didn’t notice - the Gabriola FAC and BC Ferries announced a meeting at the Golf Club on Monday, April 28th, from 6 to 8:30 pm.
“Members of the public are invited to attend… if you have a question or concerns you wish to raise with the Committee or with BC Ferries, please contact the chair of the Ferry Advisory Committee in advance of the meeting.”
Andre Lemieux can be contacted at 247-9889 or andre.lemieux@shaw.ca.
One of the organizers of the local protest, Jean McLaren said the pay hike for part-time directors added insult to injury.
“Gulf Islanders have received another slap in the face, this time a huge pay increase for the BC Ferries board,” she said, and reported that there will be protests on other islands, including Quadra, Denman/Hornby and Mayne.
“We on Gabriola are again protesting, this time on May Day, Thursday, May 1st by gathering 15 minutes before the 12.15 pm ferry, riding over to Nanaimo with banners, signs and painted umbrellas, to meet the media and ride back on the 1:55,” McLaren said.
She added: “Organizers hope that lots of seniors will join with us - with no fares to pay - and all others who are not at college or work that day. If people feel creative perhaps they can make a cardboard hand to show that we feel slapped.”
For more information, call Jean at 247-8368.
Even BC’s Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon informed the chair of BC Ferries that the pay raise was far too generous. But Falcon said he was not going to interfere with the operations of BC Ferries, because it is structured to be independent of government.
Since 2003, BC Ferries has been set up as a private company owned entirely by the BC government. It has been operating with a 60-year contract to provide ferry service for the province.
As of April 1st, board chair Elizabeth Harrison received an increase in her pay to $140,000 a year from $105,000 in 2006, while vice-chair Tom Harris gets an additional $15,000 on top of his $48,000 annual stipend.
BC Ferries directors have given themselves a raise to $48,000 from $30,000. The compensation fee for meetings will remain at $1,500.
Five new members were appointed to the 13-member board on April 11th.
Harrison defended the raise by noting that BC Ferries is going through the largest capital program in its history and also dealing many complex issues.
“We need to attract and retain the best people as directors, with the business, legal and financial skills necessary to oversee the company,” she said.
She added that the latest hike is below the average and that BC Ferries has to pay what the market is paying.
The board has about six meetings a year. The $1,500 meeting fee includes member’s preparation time, which is sometimes one to two days, Harrison also explained.
Local MLA and NDP transportation critic Leonard Krog demanded that Falcon do more.
“A 60 per cent pay increase for BC Ferries directors is outrageous, especially at a time when ferry fares are rising steadily. This minister can tell that board to roll it back,” said Krog.
“I’ve got families in Nanaimo who would happily take up a part-time position for $48,000 a year,” he added.
He called the pay hikes an insult to BC Ferries managers and staff, as well as to the public who are coping with increased ferry fares.
“I’m not opposed to paying decent remuneration, but this is beyond the pale, especially since we have no access to how it’s run financially and we are still the sole shareholder,” said Krog.
“Public service no longer has anything to do with it,” he continued. “It’s now about rewarding friends and insiders, including members of boards which are gravy trains for those who are connected with the provincial Liberals.”
In the meantime, union officials and others are warning about further privatization.
“The Campbell government should scrap its efforts to sub-contract some ferry routes to private companies,” said New Democrat ferry critic Gary Coons.
“I’ve traveled the coast of BC speaking to communities about our ferries and the Campbell government is out of touch,” he continued. “Everywhere I go, residents say they do not welcome the persistent attempts to sub-contract ferry routes up and down the coast of BC.”
Coons noted BC Ferries have declared their intent to sub-contract out routes to the Ferry Commissioner as recently as March 27th, in their second term report.
“The risks to coastal communities of contracted out routes are great,” said Coons. “The government is trying to offload subsidies and responsibility, and this could lead to reduced service and quality and even higher fares.”
On April 1st, BC Ferries raised fares by an average of 7.3 per cent on the three major routes connecting Vancouver Island to the Lower Mainland and an average of four per cent on the remaining routes, in accordance with the price cap provisions set by the BC Ferry Commissioner in September, 2007.
Rates for prepaid discounts on the minor routes also increased and customers with unstamped prepaid paper tickets are required to pay the price difference at the ticket booth.
Northern route prices have already been set through September 30th, 2008, in recognition of the planning requirements of northern tour operators.
Critics call the pay raises and fare hikes “highway robbery,” an apt term since many island residents insist that ferries are a marine highway which should be considered integral to the province’s transportation system.
If world oil prices remain at the current historically high levels, BC Ferries expects a fuel surcharge will be automatically implemented by the fall, in addition to ongoing fare increases.
|
