Picket lines at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal were avoided this week with a new and improved collective agreement for cleaning staff.
The new contract was struck with Bee-Clean Building Maintenance, the janitorial company that cleans businesses within the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and several other buildings in the Lower Mainland. Bee-Clean came to a tentative agreement with the ferry company on Friday, Oct. 30, just two days before they and other Bee-Clean workers unionized with Service Employees International Union Local 2 were set to picket at various locations across the Lower Mainland.
News of the potential picket lines broke last Friday when the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union announced their own members would not be penalized by BC Ferries if they did not cross the picket lines. If such an event were to occur, it would effectively shut down ferry service out of the Tsawwassen terminal.
According to a press release from SEIU Local 2, workers voted to ratify their first collective agreement, which represents a substantial improvement to working conditions. Among the improvements are increased wages, paid sick days, employer-paid health, coverage for prescription drugs, vision care and massage therapy.
“The fact that the BC Ferries Union was ready to stand in solidarity with the workers and not cross the picket line and essentially lead to potential disruption of BC Ferries operations, definitely also helped the janitors and helped increase that pressure,” said Christine Bro organizer with SEIU Local 2
Teresita Garvez, a Bee-Clean janitor who works cleaning the Guinness Tower in Vancouver said while she was prepared to stand on the picket line, she is glad it didn’t come to that.
“I’m happy for everything. We were ready to go all the way and strike, but I’m relieved we got this deal beforehand,” Garvez said. “The benefits are a big victory for us. I’m getting older, and I need those benefits. Paying out-of-pocket for dental and physiotherapy is difficult. And especially for my co-workers with children, these benefits mean a lot.”
