VANCOUVER — B.C. Ferries may be hard up for cash, but it’s showering employees with up to $900,000 worth of goodies this summer — to help them play golf, sign up for yoga classes and otherwise get in shape.
The storm-tossed corporation, which this spring hit passengers with a 4.1 per cent fare hike, confirmed Thursday that it’s offering each of its 3,000 unionized workers a $300 perquisite to recognize the “excellent safety record achieved in the past fiscal year.”
The ferry workers, members of the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union, will have the option of receiving either a $300 gift certificate from Mountain Equipment Co-op or Sport Chek or receiving $300 to help pay for fees at their local fitness or recreation centre.
“This is an opportunity to get yourself some new cross-trainers, workout clothing or fitness equipment. Join a fitness centre or the local gym,” said the offer made July 2 to all eligible bargaining unit employees. “Whatever your preference is to keep fit and have fun, we leave that up to you.”
The offer was contained in a letter signed by B.C. Ferries fleet operations vice-president Capt. Jamie Marshall and Michael McNevin, president of the ships’ officers component of the marine workers union.
In its last financial year, quasi-private B.C. Ferries received a total of about $210 million in provincial and federal subsidies.
B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said the rewards program was designed for front-line staff, who are more susceptible to injury. Since 2007, she noted, the corporation has focused on injury reduction and employee wellness through a union-company initiative called SailSafe.
Marshall added that B.C. Ferries’ claim costs for injuries had fallen from $3.5 million in 2006 to $800,000 in 2012. “It is a proven fact that employees that are healthy and are fit are less likely to get injured at work and are less likely to take time off from work,” she said.
“If the new health and wellness incentive program to encourage healthy, active employees is beneficial in further reducing injury claims and lost work days, then it’s appropriate,” said Transportation Minister Todd Stone.
But the giveaway has incensed the Consumers’ Association of Canada.
“I think it’s absolutely outrageous,” said president Bruce Cran, adding his association receives frequent complaints about ferry fares rising faster than inflation. They’re set to rise again by 4.0 per cent next year and by 3.9 per cent in 2015.
Jordan Bateman, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, called the $300 rewards scheme “silly,” saying it reinforces the idea that there’s one set of standards for B.C. Ferries and public employees “and then there’s the rest of us struggling to pay for what they get.”
