Aug 25 - Clipper says it would replace Victoria workers who strike

Good morning !

Sure hope they settle that labour dispute on the Clipper. The union representing 25 Victoria workers says talks are moving too slowly.

The company says it’s got a backup plan. I don’t think the workers are going to like it. It’s our first story.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5.5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 23 / 12

Tomorrow: ☀️ 26 / 13

Sunday: ☀️ 27 / 13

7-day forecast

🌫️ Air quality: Moderate risk today (4/10). Moderate smoke expected.

🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Clipper warns of replacement workers if there’s a strike

The Clipper ferry plans to replace 25 Victoria-based workers if they strike over the Labour Day weekend, Capital Daily has learned.

“We have non-union team members that will be stepping up to the plate to ensure that guests could check in, sail, and travel between Seattle and Victoria,” company COO Gordon Dirker told Capital Daily yesterday.

The Clipper employees—most of whom work in customer service, baggage handling, ticketing, and docking—have been without a contract since last Halloween, and negotiations haven’t been moving at a brisk, Clipper-like pace.

“It’s been very slow,” said Ben Williams, spokesman for Unifor 114.

Negotiations began last May and have revolved around wages, scheduling, and job security, Williams said.

On Wednesday, the union announced that 100% of its members voted in favour of launching a strike on Sunday, Sept. 3, if an agreement isn’t reached.

“If there is a strike on the third and fourth, the plan is that we provide an alternate route, which we would normally do if the ship had technical issues,” Dirker said.

Passengers would be shuttled via motorcoach to Port Angeles from Seattle, and an alternative ferry company would bring them to Victoria, he said.

But all bets—seemingly all gloves, too—would be off on Sept. 5, Dirker said, when regular service would resume with replacement workers filling in for the Victoria staff.

Williams said the union was not aware Clipper was considering replacement workers.

“There has been zero communication from them, to be perfectly honest with you,” he told Capital Daily, adding he doesn’t know where the company would find and train 25 workers in such a short time.

“They are not allowed to bring them in from another country,” he said.

Full refunds are available on standard-fare reservations with two days’ notice. Customers who would like to cancel their reservations can do so by calling 1-800-888-2535 or by emailing [email protected].

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Butchart Gardens cancels final two summer fireworks shows due to BC’s wildfire state of emergency.

EVENTS

Cook Street cooks up a tasty Saturday

With all due respect to James, the British explorer, maybe this is why it’s called Cook Street.

While there’s always a good reason to head over to the Cook Street Village—five blocks of cafes, shops, street-side patios, and of course excellent restaurants—there are even more gastronomic grounds to justify spending time tomorrow in one of the city’s most chill neighbourhoods.

Four excellent eateries are hosting an all-day fest of fine fare called the Multicultural Food Festival.

And multicultural it is. The restaurants represent the cultures of Colombia, Mexico, Ethiopia, as well as Spain, Portugal and South America, and for the first time, they’re joining forces—for fun, and in the name of satisfying your tastebuds.

Macondo is Victoria’s lone resto serving Colombian cuisine. It’s the newbie to the neighbourhood, having moved into the food court just a few months ago.

Messob Ethiopian Cuisine is tasty enough to have kept it thriving in the food court for decades.

The Mexican Village is a go-to for many Victorians looking to satisfy a taco craving, and Churros and Mor is a food truck serving gluten-free doughy delights described by some as delicious beaver tails—only if those beaver tails were richer, tastier, and made in Spain, Portugal or South America.

The food fest will feature live music and dancing.

“The music is important for us, very important,” Macondo’s Viani Valencia, one of the event organizers, tells our Sarah Madsen.

The all-day affair is family-friendly, too, with lots of children’s fun set for the patio, including a piñata to pound and plenty of cookies to decorate and devour.

The Multicultural Food Festival at 1109 McKenzie St. runs tomorrow from 11am to 8pm.

Read Sarah’s story here in Tasting Victoria.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🎧 Hot Local Singles in Your Playlist on CFUV: An hour of music from local artists and artists performing in local venues. Fridays, 1-2pm. Today CFUV also features local singer-songwriter Charis Tazumi on The Basement Closet Sessions (3-4pm), and listeners can text in their questions during the set.

🎶 Pacific Opera Victoria's season of full-flavoured opera is on sale now! 3-opera subscriptions starting at $75, single tickets starting at $30. Buy tickets and subscriptions here.*

❓ Have questions, comments, or concerns about provincial policies, programs, and services in Oak Bay-Gordon Head? Contact BC NDP MLA Murray Rankin at [email protected] or 250-472-8528.*

😊 Now Hiring: Out of School Care Coordinator at Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

UVic gets $840K from province for graduate scholarships
The funding will go to grad students studying science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It is a part of the StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan, which aims to make education and training more accessible and affordable.

Fishing closure extended for Upper Cowichan River
The closure, which will be in place until Nov. 1, extends from Cowichan Lake Weir to the 66 Mile Trestle. Fishing initially was slated to reopen Sept. 1. The closure is aimed at reducing stress on the river’s fish populations, following the die-off of thousands of fry.

North Saanich RCMP fish for clues about stolen boat
The 5.4m fishing vessel was pilfered sometime last Saturday from its mooring pin in the waters off Lochside Drive. It’s a white boat with an enclosed cabin and has a newish Suzuki outboard motor.

They’re going to need a bigger firehall
The Oak Bay Fire Department has just ordered a new truck with a ladder that’s too long to fit in the Monterey Avenue firehall. It also has a new fire engine on the way that will only fit in one of the bays. No worries. This was by design, and a new hall or bay is in the works. [Times Colonist]

🗓️ Things to do

🎙️ Harbour Blues ‘n Roots Festival: Local and international blues and R&B musicians will perform in a series of free concerts at multiple venues today until Sunday. Today’s concert at Ship Point will be headlined by Samantha Fish and will feature performances from Jesse Dayton and Boy Golden.

🛒 The Bay Centre is now open until 8pm Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Plus this summer, get 3-hours free parking on weekends and park for FREE weekdays after 5 pm. Plan your visit today.*

🎺 Mazacote at Hermann’s Upstairs: As a part of the Harbour Blues ‘n Roots Festival, the Juno-nominated six-piece band will perform tonight, 9:30pm.

🇬🇷 GreekFest: The celebration of Greek culture kicks off today for the first of two weekends. The event will include authentic Greek food, live dance performances and music.

🖼️ Four Friends Having Fun: The exhibition at ArtSea Gallery in Sidney will feature work from Linda Butcher, Shirley Sarens, Lois Kissinger, and Karen Wilk. From today until Aug. 31.

🎥 Free-B Film Festival: Watch Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla free tonight at Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park, 9pm.

🎤 The Choirs YYJ at Butchart Gardens: The choir will perform tonight on the open-air stage, 8pm.

🎭 Chekhov Parker Chekhov: As part of the Victoria Fringe Festival, Catador Theatre will perform three short plays at Metro Studio, 5pm.

🌿 Pico and the Golden Lagoon: This puppet show about courage and new friendships will be performed tonight at The Roxy Theatre, 6pm.

🧢 Like Father, Like Hatchling: This drag performance featuring drag king Chaz Avery and his hatchling Gay Jatsby will take place tonight at SKAM Satellite Studio, 6:45pm.

🐳 Moby Dick: Roderick Glanville’s interpretation of the classic sea epic will show tonight at Metro Studio, 7pm.

🌲 Humans of Fairy Creek: A Fringe Fest performance in the form of a talk show hosted by ecofeminist Tasha Diamant. Tonight at Philippine Bayanihan Centre, 7:30pm.

🎭 Renfield: This play about the insect-eating madman from Dracula shows tonight at The Roxy Theatre, 8pm.

*Sponsored Listing

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Islanders win gold at dragon boat world championships, record deep-sea water temperatures near Island, Thetis Lake fire, and more. [Aug. 24]

Umo launches on BC Transit: The new electronic fare system allows for contactless payment and reloadable cards.

181 buildings damaged in Okanagan wildfires: The majority of damaged properties were in West Kelowna and the North Westside area. [CBC]

Province asks Shuswap residents to follow evacuation orders, saying resistance undermines collective efforts to fight wildfires. [CTV]

Trans Mountain pipeline construction faces new hurdle: The corporation has filed for approval to change the route of construction, due to engineering issues. [Global] (The Canadian Press)

That’s it!

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