B.C.'s labour minister says a government-appointed mediator is available to help end the Kootenay ferry strike following a union request.

The B.C. General Employees Union, which represents 80 members working for Western Pacific Marine on the Kootenay Lake vessels as well as the Harrop and Glade cable ferries, said in a March 26 statement it has asked Minister of Labour Jennifer Whiteside to appoint a special mediator. 

鈥淎s our bargaining committee continues to push for a deal, our priority remains finding a resolution that benefits both ferry workers and the community they serve,鈥� said BCGEU president Paul Finch.

鈥淎fter five months on strike, workers want to return to full-time work with the security of a fair collective agreement that will ensure service levels are preserved for years to come.鈥�

Western Pacific Marine said in a statement it would welcome a special mediator, but prefers binding arbitration as "the most effective and impartial way to achieve a fair resolution."

鈥淲e have addressed the union鈥檚 core demands and presented fair proposals that ensure both competitive wages and long-term service reliability,鈥� said Odai Sirri, Western Pacific Marine general manager.

鈥淲hile we support the special mediation process, we still believe that binding arbitration would provide the quickest, most equitable resolution by relying on facts rather than rhetoric.鈥�

In a March 27 statement to the Nelson Star, Whiteside said the government expects the union and company to continue collective bargaining, and that a special mediator who reports to Whiteside would be made available.

If no settlement is reached, the mediator can issue their own recommendations with the goal of ending the impasse, although those recommendations would also have to be agreed on both the parties.

"I understand how frustrating this situation is for residents who rely on ferry service to commute, access services, and stay connected to their communities," said Whiteside. 鈥淭he government鈥檚 expectation is that the two sides engage in collective bargaining in a fair and transparent manner.

Both sides have met on-and-off as they work toward a new collective agreement. Strike action began last November, but talks once again broke down March 11 as the union and company accused each other of .

On March 20, the BCGEU  on the Kootenay Lake route between Balfour and Kootenay Bay but said its members wouldn't work overtime hours. The change has since led to multiple sailing cancellations.

鈥淚t is concerning that in recent weeks there have been cancelled sailings 鈥� often on short notice 鈥� which have led to people being stranded," said Whiteside.

鈥淚t is the responsibility of the parties to resolve their outstanding issues, reach a fair agreement, and return to normal ferry service.鈥�