I find reading Alberni-Pacific MLA Scott Fraser’s recent letter to the editor in The NEWS, saying that the problem with BC Ferries is due to the high expenses of management staff, insulting and annoying.
Once again, as typical with the NDP MLAs, Fraser has not done any research.
What about the union workers? Presently there are more than 900 union employees that are making more than $75,000 per year in wages with a 100 per cent, fully-funded benefits plan paid for by the taxpayers. A gift shop cashier is paid $24.49 per hour, ticket attendant at boarding booth, $24.85 per hour, coffee shop attendant, $23.35 per hour, and a third cook, $27.51 per hour. These union employees will also receive pay increases on April 1, 2014, and April 1, 2015.
In comparison to the United Steelworkers union contract, a green chain puller in the sawmill is paid $25.93 per hour and a logging chokerman man is paid $26.94 per hour.
The union rates of pay on BC Ferries are outrageous in comparison to United Steelworkers workers who have jobs that can cause body injuries. If ferry management employee wages have to be frozen, then the union workers can do the same.
What has happened to the days of fair criticisms listing all facts before making propaganda comments, which seems to be the norm today?
Joe Sawchuk
Duncan