Unvaccinated BC Ferries Workers Allowed Back On The Job

Unvaccinated BC Ferries workers are being allowed back on the job, raising hopes they could help alleviate the staffing issues that have forced a number of recent sailing cancellations.

Unvaccinated BC Ferries workers are being allowed back on the job, raising hopes they could help alleviate the staffing issues that have forced a number of recent sailing cancellations.

BC Ferries' vaccination requirement was suspended Monday, after the Canadian government lifted its vaccine mandate for employees working in federally regulated transportation sectors.

BC Ferries has approximately 150 employees on leave without pay due to the policy, BC Ferries is now in the process of reaching out to them to check on their intention to return to work with the company.

How much impact unvaccinated workers will have on scheduling issues depends on how many return, BC Ferries has already recruited approximately 850 workers since the start of the year.

That hasn't been enough to prevent several recent sailing cancellations between the mainland and Vancouver Island, due to staffing problems blamed on COVID-19 and a lack of workers to fill in the gaps.

The federal government lifted its vaccine mandate for transportation sectors at the same time it lifted the mandate for domestic travelers and federal employees.