News from the Shipyard General Workers' Federation

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Submission of Shipyard General Workers' Federation of British Columbia by President George MacPherson - February 11, 2008

NDP Calls for Support for BC Shipbuilding Industry - December 13, 2007

No celebrations Friday for BC shipyard workers as BC Ferries launches first of German-built Super-C Class ferries that cost province 3,500 direct and indirect jobs, lost $542 million of BC investment, says BC Shipyard Workers’ Federation - September 20, 2007

BC Shipyard Workers’ Federation says federal Conservative government wrong in granting $13 million duty remission for BC Ferries purchase of Greek-built MV Sonia – now named Northern Adventure - BC Ferries should pay duty on Sonia and nearly $1 billion spent on foreign-built replacement ferries - June 22, 2007

BC Shipyard Workers Federation says federal Conservative government betraying shipbuilding industry - free trade deal between Canada and European Free Trade Association expected today could throw away thousands of jobs and hundreds of million of investment in BC and Canada - June 7, 2007

BC Shipyard Workers' Federation makes formal submission to federal government opposing BC Ferries' request to avoid $17 million duty for importing Greek-built ship MV Sonia to replace sunken Queen of the North - December 14, 2006

BC Shipyard Workers’ Federation says BC Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon dead wrong in asking federal government duty remission for BC Ferries purchase of Greek-built MV Sonia – program helps Canadian shipyard industry survive, needed when BC Ferries spending nearly $1 billion in foreign shipyards - December 6, 2006

Wanted: A Smart Canadian Shipbuilding Strategy - August 25, 2006

Federal navy supply ship contract for $2.9 billion could go to British Columbia , creating 5,000 new jobs, says BC Shipyard Workers' Federation, but asks why Premier Gordon Campbell supporting navy building ships in BC but not telling BC Ferries to build new ferries in BC - June 28, 2006

BC Ferries management's bad attitude is the biggest safety concern facing passengers and crew after Queen of the North sinking, says BC Shipyard General Workers' Federation - June 8, 2006

Washington Marine Group sinking British Columbia shipbuilding industry by refusing to bid on new $350 million BC Ferries' North Coast replacement ferries says BC Shipyard General Workers' Federation; 5000 jobs, major investment lost to BC in foolish decision, says George MacPherson - April 26, 2006

BC Ferries over 10 years late in building replacements for Queen of the North, which sunk overnight, and two other aging northern ferries, says BC Shipyard General Workers' Federation; say new ferries worth $500 million should be built - in BC shipyards - as soon as possible - March 22, 2006

BC Shipyard General Workers' Federation targets Liberal Industry Minister David Emerson in Vancouver-Kingsway riding, other Liberal MPs for defeat in newspaper ad today over failure to protect shipbuilding and jobs in BC - January 18, 2006

BC Ferries is years behind schedule needed for new ships, says BC Shipyard General Workers' Federation after $50 million Bowen Island ferry contract awarded three years late; service disruptions will increase as fleet ages - September 22, 2005

BC Ferries says “Auf Wiedersehen!” to $1 million; BC Shipyard Workers Federation says BC Ferries spending over $1 million on staff costs to build 3 Super C Class ferries in Germany, including travel and accommodation costs; $81,000 spent in first half of 2004 alone before contract awarded - May 10, 2005

Is BC Ferries negotiating $500 million contract for new North Coast ferries with German shipbuilding yard? Is BC Ferries buying housing in Germany for staff? Will Australian firm get more untendered contracts for BC Ferries' work? BC Shipyard Workers Federation issues open letter to BC Ferries to demand answers - May 2, 2005

BC Shipyard Workers Federation files Supreme Court libel action against BC Ferries' CEO David Hahn over libelous comments made in radio, newspaper interviews about Federation's charge that new Bowen Island ferry project likely to go to Polish shipyard; punitive damages and restraining injunction sought against Hahn - April 28, 2005

BC Shipyard Workers Federation demands BC Ferries open up contracts to full public tender and let British Columbia companies bid after Vancouver Sun reports $800,000 lifeboat and evacuation equipment contract going to Australian company without competitive public tendering - April 20, 2005

Legal counsel for BC Shipyard Workers Federation demands immediate apology and retraction from BC Ferries' CEO David Hahn over libelous comments made in radio interview about Federation's charge that new Bowen Island ferry project will go to Polish shipyard; Federation President George MacPherson will file libel action if no apology given - April 6, 2005

BC Shipyard Workers Federation charges that BC Ferries will award construction of new $35 million Bowen Island ferry to Polish shipyard and withhold announcement of decision until after May 17 provincial election; Federation files Freedom Of Information request to see if Premier Campbell, Transportation Minister Falcon asked for delay - April 4, 2005

“A convincing case for offshore work”? The Times-Colonist arguments are far less than convincing for building new BC Ferries ships in Germany - March 1, 2005

BC Shipyard Workers Federation will fight any plan by BC Ferries to build new Bowen Island ferry in Poland; Federation concerned that BC Liberal government wants decision where to build delayed past May 17 election date - February 1, 2005

Freedom of information request shows BC Ferries CEO David Hahn and BC Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon intentionally misled public about BC government not being involved in decision to build ferries in Germany, says Shipyard Workers Federation - September 30, 2004

No savings for BC Ferry Services: New German-built ferries will cost more per ship than much larger, built-in-BC Spirit class ferries, says Shipyard Workers Federation; Spirit Class ferries cost $147.5 million each, smaller German ferries will cost British Columbians $180.66 million each - September 18, 2004

Liberal MLA Dan Jarvis to accept more than 10,000 messages today from British Columbians opposed to BC Ferry Services building 3 new Super C Class ferries worth $500 million in Germany from BC Shipyard Workers Federation; MLA will receive messages at 11:30 a.m. at North Van office - September 15, 2004

Shipyard Workers Federation charges BC Ferry Services Board of Directors with dereliction of duty for refusing Washington Marine Group request for meeting to discuss exclusion from bidding on 3 new Super C Class ferries worth $500 million and 2000 direct jobs - September 14, 2004

BC Liberal MLA Ralph Sultan blasts BC Ferry Services CEO David Hahn for efforts to “unfairly smear the reputation and capability” of BC shipyards and workers; says excluding Vancouver Shipyards from bidding on 3 new Super C Class ferries worth $500 million is “inexplicable” - September 13, 2004

BC headed for bigger, uglier ferries fiasco? - September 1, 2004

BC Ferries president says local industry can but he won't - August 24, 2004

Shipbuilders challenge Plant's rationale for snubbing local industry - August 19, 2004

Former Premier Bill Vander Zalm to speak at rally of shipyard workers supporting demands that BC Ferry Services let BC shipyards bid on building 3 new Super C Class ships in BC; Shipyard Workers' Federation rally at Vancouver Dry Dock in North Van Wednesday Aug. 11 at 12 noon - August 10, 2004

BC Ferry Services is forfeiting $200 million by building 3 Super C Class ships in foreign shipyard, Shipyard Workers' Federation reveals: losing $75 million federal contribution for building in Canada and paying $125 million in duty to import foreign-built ferries for $200 million total - August 10, 2004

BC Shipyard Workers Federation files Freedom of Information request on Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon in effort to make public all details on why government and BC Ferry Services want to build 3 Super C Class ferries in foreign shipyard at cost of $500 million and 2000 lost jobs - August 9, 2004

BC Shipyard Workers Federation says BC Ferry Services CEO David Hahn should tell the truth about intention to build ships offshore instead of misleading British Columbians and blaming unions for public opposition when they reveal secret plans - August 5, 2004

BC Ferry Services will contract out construction of new Gulf Island ferries to a Poland shipyard, political insiders' newsletter claims; BC Shipyard Workers Federation demands government order BC Ferry Services' bidding process be made fair to local shipyards and workers - August 4, 2004

Comments today by BC Ferry Services CEO David Hahn indicate BC shipyard industry could be permanently put out of ferry construction and repair business through exporting refit and small ferry building to foreign shipyards, says BC Shipyard Workers Federation - August 3, 2004

B.C. politicians and media invited to tour Victoria shipyard facilities in Thursday July 29 at 10:00 a.m. to see capabilities of BC shipbuilders who want chance to bid on 3 Super C Class ships worth reported $500 million in British Columbia; unions and company will present information - July 28, 2004

B.C. politicians and media invited to tour Vancouver Shipyards facilities in North Vancouver Wednesday July 28 at 10:30 a.m. to see that BC shipbuilders totally capable of building 3 Super C Class ships worth $500 million in British Columbia; unions and company will present information - July 27, 2004

BC Ferry Services has already racked up $81,000 in executive travel to Europe to build 3 Super C Class ferries in foreign shipyard instead of BC; Shipyard Workers Federation asks how much money will be wasted overseas instead of creating 2000 jobs at home in BC - July 23, 2004

BC Liberal MLA calls BC Ferry Services' decision to build Super C Class ferries overseas “blatantly stupid” and breaks ranks with government; North Van-Seymour MLA Dan Jarvis says ferries should be built in BC and says many in Gordon Campbell cabinet agree with him - July 22, 2004

BC Ferry Services and Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon “totally wrong” in claming BC shipyards could not build 3 Super C Class ships worth $500 million, says Shipyard Workers' Federation, calling it a “pathetic excuse” for giving 2000 jobs to foreign shipyard - July 20, 2004, 4:15pm

Shipyard Workers' Federation releases more evidence that province has secretly decided to build 3 Super C Class ships worth $500 million in foreign shipyard – BC Ferry Services has officially requested “duty relief” from federal Finance Department to import foreign built ferries - July 20, 2004

BC Ferries' secret decision to build 3 Super C Class ships in Europe instead of previously stated 2 means that BC shipyards lose 2000 jobs and $500 million investment, say shipyard unions - July 19, 2004

Allied Shipbuilders' floating drydock for ship repairs, put into service 1996

Liberal candidate David Emerson a hypocrite – Shipyard Workers' Federation says his “made-in-BC” election platform completely opposite of his actions as BC Ferries chair in seeking foreign shipyards to build ferries instead of building in BC - June 10, 2004

Washington Marine Group confirms it has been excluded from bidding for 2 new Super-C Class ferries worth $220 million that would create more than 1,500 jobs; Shipyard Workers Federation says BC government should insist on build-in-BC - April 21, 2004

Provincial betrayal of BC shipyard industry to cost over 1,300 jobs, $220 million investment as BC Ferries moves to give foreign shipyard contracts to build two new vessels, say shipyard unions - April 20, 2004

BC Shipyard Workers Federation says public inquiry needed to find out how government sale of fast ferries cost taxpayers millions, as Washington Marin Group's re-sale of 3 Pacificcast as floating casinos now shows - February 29, 2004

Secret Documents Show Government and BC Ferries Ignored Detailed Proposal From Norwegian Company to Run Fast Ferries on Sunshine Coast Routes With Minor Modifications and Save Millions for Taxpayers - March 21, 2003

BC Shipyard and Ferry Workers Unions Call On BC Government to Cancel Fast Ferries' Auction and Conduct Feasibility Study to Run BC Fast Ferries Between Downtown Vancouver and Victoria, Naniamo - March 19, 2003

Shipyard Workers' Federation challenges BC Ferries to release secret budget for construction of new Bowen Island ferry after rejecting BC shipyard that submitted lowest qualified bid; says BC Ferries could use new federal program to lower cost - Feburary 21, 2003

BC Ferries kills tender to construct new Bowen Island ferry after BC shipyard has lower bid than foreign shipyards, says Shipyard Workers' Federation, calling move another provincial betrayal of BC shipyard industry that will cost BC jobs - February 19, 2003

BC Shipyard General Workers Federation says BC Ferries changes announced today would let provincial government avoid responsibility for giving away valuable BC jobs to foreign shipyards for the refit and construction of BC Ferries vessels - December 9, 2002

Shipyard Workers Federation calls on provincial government to drop foreign shipyard bids after British Columbia shipyard beats foreign competition to win BC Ferries' contract with lowest cost to refit Queen of Coquitlam - October 11, 2002

British Columbia shipyard beats foreign competition with lowest bid on BC Ferries' contracts to refit 5 ships; Shipyard Workers call on provincial government to drop new tender to foreign shipyards for Bowen Island replacement ferry - September 24, 2002

Shipyard General Workers' Federation calls on BC government to drop foreign bids from $175 million tender to refit and construct BC Ferries' ships as September 20 deadline reached, saying BC jobs will be lost if forced into unfair competition, with subsidized Chinese shipyards paying workers as little as $76 Cdn a month - September 20, 2002

British Columbians strongly disagree with provincial government decision to consider giving BC Ferries' contracts to refit and construct ships to foreign countries: opinion poll conducted for Shipyard Workers shows 90% say buying locally important; 65% say government should only buy BC goods and services - September 16, 2002

Shipyard workers charge confidential bidding information shows BC government attempting to favour foreign shipbuilding firms in refit and construction of BC Ferries vessels by avoiding full duty on work done overseas - union demands level playing field to compete fairly - September 5, 2002