Latest news with #EricMcNeely
Global News
04-07-2025
- Global News
Tesla driver altercation on BC Ferries latest in ‘negative interactions,' union says
BC Ferries workers are calling for more safety measures for staff when on board vessels, after recent incidents have resulted in altercations and injuries. On Canada Day, North Saanich RCMP officers were called on board a vessel after a man was seen yelling and being abusive toward staff. The Queen of Cumberland was travelling to Swartz Bay from the Southern Gulf Islands around 11:30 p.m. when the incident happened. The man appeared to be driving erratically and trying to drive onto the ferry deck before it had docked, police said. Eric McNeely, provincial president of the BC Ferry Marine Workers Union, said he has heard from workers and union members that the man got out of the vehicle during the crossing and then picked up a sledgehammer from the anchor compartment and then used that to break the lock off the gate at the front of the ferry. Story continues below advertisement He said the man then got back into the vehicle, a Tesla, and was trying to drive it around. 'At that point, the crew responded,' McNelly said. Passenger Pratham Khowala caught what happened next on video. 'As I went towards the window of the upper deck, I saw that the person was trying to run over a BC Ferries crew (member) with his car,' he told Global News. Khowala said the man in the Tesla was confrontational and abusive. The man gets back in the Tesla and that's when RCMP officers can be seen removing him and putting him in handcuffs. The man appears to only be wearing a shirt, socks and either underwear or short shorts. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy RCMP officers told Global News the man was dealing with a mental health crisis. 0:42 BC Ferries workers punched, kicked, bitten by shirtless passenger BC Ferries said it does have security on board its bigger vessels but not on the smaller routes that this passenger was on. Story continues below advertisement This comes after a violent incident happened on board the BC Ferries Spirit of British Columbia last Saturday morning. The union says that on the 7 a.m. sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, a deckhand was punched and kicked by a shirtless man on the vehicle deck. The ship's second officer and security tried to intervene, the union said, but the man ended up racing through the galley and biting the second officer, drawing blood. An off-duty police officer then got involved and, along with several crew members, managed to subdue the man. The man was taken into custody by police at Swartz Bay. The ship's second officer went to the hospital for treatment as a precaution, the union said. McNeely said there has been an increase in negative interactions on board BC Ferries, involving verbal and physical abuse of staff. 'I think there's often events that occur on ferries that most people don't see,' he said. 'Now that there's more awareness, especially coming off the weekend with the passenger punching a crew member and then biting and kicking another crew member, there's a little bit of more awareness.' Story continues below advertisement 2:39 Mechanical issue leaves BC Ferries passengers floating McNeely said interactions often involve the misuse of substances and those dealing with mental health challenges. 'Ferry workers and people who work for BC Ferries aren't corrections officers, they aren't police officers and it looks like at some points we're going to need more tools than we have currently,' he added. In a statement to Global News, BC Ferries said the kind of behaviour seen over the weekend and Canada Day was not acceptable. 'Our crews keep the ferry system moving — through storms, long weekends, and high-pressure days,' the organization said. 'They deserve to do that work without fear of aggression or abuse.' BC Ferries said it is supporting the employees involved and it is looking at additional training to reflect the 'real-world' situations that crew members are dealing with. Story continues below advertisement Khowala said that staff on his ferry acted in a professional and calm manner. 'They are the best people in these kind of matters,' he said. 'BC Ferry staff was like, 'Everybody just go back to the upper deck for safety issues. Or if you have a car, just sit back in your car.''
CTV News
01-07-2025
- CTV News
Shirtless man bit BC Ferries worker after hopping food counter, union says
The Spirit of British Columbia is shown in an undated file photo. ( An agitated man attacked a BC Ferries employee after leaping over a Coastal Café counter during a busy weekend sailing, according to the worker's union. Eric McNeely, president of the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union, said the incident unfolded during the 7 a.m. sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay on Saturday, and began on the vehicle deck. A deckhand was reminding passengers to head up to the passenger deck, as required under Transport Canada regulations, when a shirtless man stepped out of a vehicle and 'started a physical altercation,' McNeely said. After a second employee came to help, the passenger ran upstairs and allegedly jumped into an employee-only area of the Coastal Café, where he fell onto his back. 'At that time the second (worker) was able to catch up to them,' McNeely said. 'The passenger started kicking and when the second (worker) reached to stop the boot of the passenger, the passenger spun around and bit (him on the arm).' A group of employees then managed to subdue the man. He was taken to a back room and restrained with help from an off-duty police officer, McNeely said. The RCMP was called and apprehended the passenger after the ferry arrived on Vancouver Island, according to the union. CTV News has reached out to the Sidney North Saanich RCMP for more information, but has not received a response. McNeely said the incident highlights some of the risks BC Ferries employees face while on the job. 'I can't think of another biting off the top of my head, but kicking and punching unfortunately isn't entirely uncommon,' he said. McNeely pointed to a 2019 employee survey that found 82 per cent of BC Ferries workers had experienced physical or verbal abuse from passengers. In a statement, BC Ferries told CTV News it is 'deeply concerned' by Saturday's incident. 'Our employees work hard every day to provide a safe and enjoyable journey for the thousands of passengers that travel with us. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,' the company said. 'We are offering support to the affected crew members and will be conducting an internal review to assess what occurred and identify any additional measures that may be needed.' With files from CTV News Vancouver's Kevin Charach
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
BC Ferries union upset Chinese company was hired to build new vessels
Following the selection of a Chinese state-run firm to build four new vessels, backlash has been strong and swift. News that BC Ferries has hired a Chinese company to build four new vessels for its aging fleet has generated choppy waters, including from the company's workers. 'We listened to the prime minister say, 'build, baby, build,' we listened to the prime minister say, 'buy B.C.' You know my members are going to the grocery store – I'm going to the grocery store – we're picking the fruits and vegetables that are local to Canada,' said Eric McNeely, with the BC Ferry and Marine Workers' Union. The value of the contract hasn't been released, but the union thinks the jobs should stay in B.C. to bolster shipbuilding in the province. 'A generational impact in shipbuilding,' said McNeely Wednesday, describing the potential impact of the four new major vessels. 'We're probably looking at a billion dollars of ship investment.' Amid a trade war with China that includes tariffs on Canadian seafood and tensions between the U.S. and China, the opposition B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad is also upset. 'My big concern here is the instability, the friction that's building between United States and China,' said Rustad. Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth emphasized Wednesday that BC Ferries is not a Crown corporation, even if it gets significant funding from the province. He too says he's disappointed by the decision to hire a Chinese shipyard to do the work, but is heartened that the maintenance and repair contracts will stay in B.C. 'On something like this, you always want to see as much Canadian content as possible, as much British Columbian content as possible, so that's my main concern,' said Farnworth Wednesday. BC Ferries says no Canadian company bid on the project, adding Chinese shipbuilders now account for two thirds of global builds, and the winning bidder is responsible for Canadian ships, along with others around the world. 'This particular shipyard has really focused on the exact type of vessel that BC Ferries needs - specifically, large, high-quality roll-on. roll-off passenger ferries,' said Ed Hooper with BC Ferries. The new vessels are scheduled to be done between 2029 and 2031. B.C.'s main shipbuilder and the obvious local choice, Seaspan, says it's too busy with federal projects - navy and coast guard ships - to meet the project's timeline, but wants a piece of future contracts with three more builds already expected when these are done.
Hamilton Spectator
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Outrage grows on North Coast over B.C. Ferries accessibility failures for 2+ months
A BC Ferries' vessel, which connects several North Coast communities, has been operating without a functional elevator since Feb. 20, creating major challenges for passengers with mobility issues. A critical link between Port Hardy, Prince Rupert, Bella Bella, Klemtu, and Haida Gwaii, the Northern Adventure ferry's broken elevator and stair lift have sparked concerns from the BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union and passengers over serious accessibility inadequacies. 'It's not a good situation for anyone to be in, and we think that prioritizing fully accessible vessels and terminals is important, especially so in the North where there's very limited options for people to travel. And in some cases, BC ferries may be the only option,' said Eric McNeely, BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union president. The union represents more than 4,500 ferry and marine workers across the province, including deckhands, terminal staff, engineers, and stewards. McNeely says that passengers with disabilities have been forced to crawl upstairs or pay others to carry them aboard the Northern Adventure. 'This is a clear human rights failure,' said the union president. Several front-line deck workers are union members facing daily tension and conflict as travellers requiring assistance are left without safe or dignified ways to access the upper decks. Some older adults have even asked to be carried, placing workers in a moral dilemma as they are caught between compassion and an employer policy prohibiting them from carrying passengers. For travellers from some remote coastal communities, this ship is their only lifeline to medical care, family, and essential services. 'Technicians have been on-vessel multiple times for repairs but have not been successful in finding a long-term fix for the elevator,' said Sonia Lowe, senior communications advisor at BC Ferries. The elevator briefly resumed operation in early April but failed again shortly after. Lowe explained that one of the challenges BC Ferries faces is that the original European elevator manufacturer is no longer in business, making it difficult to source replacement parts. To address this, the company is now collaborating with a new elevator supplier to develop a comprehensive repair plan and secure the necessary components, she said. Technicians are scheduled to be back on board starting repairs on Wednesday, May 7. 'Eleven weeks without an elevator seems like a very long time in a company that receives a significant amount of provincial and federal funding, and accessibility should be a part of their public obligation,' said McNeely. 'This shouldn't be happening in 2025. Delays sourcing a part are not an excuse. When people's dignity and safety are on the line, you find a solution fast,' he added. McNeely noted that passengers on this route are not permitted to remain in their vehicles and must exit and climb the stairs to reach the passenger area. Additionally, the washrooms are limited to the stairs only. 'There's quite a few elderly travellers at the northern routes. If anyone falls on those flight of stairs, that's a real is difficult to be part of a system that isn't humanizing the challenges that exist because of mechanical breakdowns. It's 2025, we hosted the Paralympics. Rick Hansen tries to travel around, like we could do better?' Lowe said BC Ferries is sorry about the situation. 'We understand the impact this has on passengers with accessibility needs and sincerely apologize for the ongoing inconvenience.' The company has offered customers the option to cancel or reschedule their booking at no extra charge. The BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union is calling for urgent repairs, immediate accommodations for passengers requiring assistance and a plan to prevent future failures.
