Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 29, 2008 9:29:29 GMT -8
So how do you expect to live then if you only have the job at the ferries and only like 1 or 2 days a week or hardly any hours??? I know some people cant live on a on call job where you dont even know how many days you will be working. It is stupid if you ask me. How many companies hire on call???
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Post by kylefossett on Jan 29, 2008 16:44:48 GMT -8
Karl there are a lot of compaines that hire staff as on call to start. this gives them a chance to evaluate them. i know people that have been hired by bc ferries as on call and end up with more hours each paycheque then some of the fulltime staff. it is possible to work many many hours in the may-sept period and survive the rest of the year work 2 shifts a week. and unless employent insure has changed you can claim ei during the slow season, provided you have worked the minimum hours in the previous 6 month period.
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Post by ferrytraveller on Jan 31, 2008 20:15:57 GMT -8
yes but employees should not have to be on an on call basis for many years. It would be reasonable for someone who is hired, to be promoted after a certain amount of months or even a year.
Also how long does it CURRENTLY take to become a regular full time crew with bc ferries?
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Post by Barnacle on Feb 2, 2008 8:07:41 GMT -8
You do realize that WSF works on the same basis, right? It all depends on where you are willing to work, what your credentials and qualifications are (ordinary seaman vs. able-bodied seaman, mate, master)... I was only on-call for nine months; some of my co-workers have been on-call for six or seven years, but only because they aren't willing to travel to Edmonds to work. It all depends on how hungry you are for work, and how good you are with your money.
When I *was* on call, I made it plain to crew dispatch that I wasn't tremendously picky about where I went; I lived in the center of the fleet at the time and Point Defiance and Anacortes were within 1600 feet of being equidistant for me. (That's a much cooler frame of reference than three tenths of a mile. ;D) I wasn't sent to Point D. until I started working mate, but I have overall worked every run and every boat in the WSF fleet in some capacity (a few with the training office)--including five that aren't in service anymore.
Anyway. On-call is a way of life, like probationary employment. And when you're young and used to life on the spartan is the best time to do it rather than in your thirties with a mortgage and a family to feed.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 2, 2008 8:47:57 GMT -8
Anyway. On-call is a way of life, like probationary employment. And when you're young and used to life on the spartan is the best time to do it rather than in your thirties with a mortgage and a family to feed. And if you've "paid your dues" early, you're more likely to have a nice benefit-plan and a nicer wage-rate for the time when & if you have a mortgage and a family to raise. ....and when retirement time comes around, you'll be very thankful for any vested pension benefits that will come your way from that employment stint. If you want to make a long-term career of something, my advice is to start young and focus on the end-goal, not on the short-term inconveniences. My own career path was similar in some respects, and at age 25 I was "behind" many of my high-school friends, re things like independent-living, car, house, family-life, etc. I had chosen the slow&steady route, and now I can look back and say that it was worth it. As Yoda says, "Patience".
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Post by kylefossett on Feb 2, 2008 16:58:39 GMT -8
ok without trying to get naybody mad i am going to categorize the members of this forum who have issues and complaints about having to work on-call: 1-living at home 2-never really had a job other then restaurant/grocery store type 3-yet to be exposed to the real world. If you look at the previous 2 posts before this one there is some wisdom and sensibility coming from barnacle and flugel. i can categorize them as the following: 1-15-20yrs out of highschool (no i am not calling you 2 old as i fit into that same range) 2-mortgage holders 3-have lived in the real world. the assumptions have come from reading the posts in this thread and looking at the name and not looking at the profile of the person. let me know how close i got this.
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Post by Ferryman on Feb 2, 2008 21:46:20 GMT -8
With my current job position, I've worked my way up to Foreman status, at a roofing company that is barely keeping up to the building boom in Squamish. Sure I make a decent wage for my age, but this is not something I want to be doing for any longer. My parents have sold our house up here, and are moving to a house in Kelowna. I've decided to take this opportunity to move out, and live independantly with a roomate, who just happens to be a good friend of mine. I'm in the middle of applying for courses at BCIT for Fall 2008, and will be done that process when I have a Transport Canada certified doctor check me out to see if I'm physically fit for the job. Once I'm in school again, hours for working will be tight, so I'm trying to build up enough savings so I shouldn't be able to worry too much with being short of cash. Of course BC Ferries isn't my only option that I'm looking at right now, but I need a guaranteed job where I know I can get in enough hours to pay rent, bills, and even put a little bit in the bank. Who would want a job where you can't earn enough to support yourself, and are not allowed to get another job for extra coin, that could potentially interfere with the job at BC Ferries. I don't mind being on call, and being shifted around to different terminals, if I know for sure I'll be able to pay the rent and living expenses by the end of the month.
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Post by Scott on Feb 2, 2008 22:20:24 GMT -8
I think the idea that you're not allowed to have another job is a bit of a scare. When I've talked to them, they have acknowledged that most casual employees do have other jobs, however it's expected that their committment to BC Ferries comes first. Whether it's different in reality, I'm not sure, but that's what I was told.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Feb 2, 2008 22:48:27 GMT -8
A friend of mine was on call/casual at Swartz Bay. He had another job as well, in construction, but it was with the understanding that if BCF called him, he had to go there. So I think you are allowed to have another job, it just has to be flexible enough to accommodate the random schedule of BCF.
Also, if you have you're required tickets (BTW, OFA level 1 is mandatory for just about all new hires... hint hint) I don't think you have to spend all that much time in a random casual pool. There have been an awful lot of older employees retiring in recent years, and that is a trend that is going to continue.
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Post by ferrytraveller on Feb 3, 2008 1:18:01 GMT -8
well thats good to hear that you don't necessarily have to spend too much time in the casual pool. That is definately encouraging. I have no problem with working on call as long as i can get in decent hours every month and get the chance to move up in the company. I mean i have heard someone who has gotten as many as 25 hours a month working out of langdale, so that is encouraging. I don't mind having a second job aswell either so i can put away some money.
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Post by Guest on Feb 3, 2008 10:44:23 GMT -8
Allow me to put some things to rest here. 1)If you get a job just for the summer, you WILL work a minimum of 15 days a month. It's now a condition of employment. 2)You'll be working more than that(I can pretty much guarantee it) 3)Combined with the OT you will make, it's probably without fail the best paying job you can have without getting any certifications.
And remember, there is a HUGE labour shortage at BCFerries. Jobs are coming up all the time.
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Post by ferrytraveller on Feb 3, 2008 11:09:32 GMT -8
well more then 15 days a month is a really good thing to hear. Do you work for BC Ferries Guest?
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Post by Barnacle on Feb 3, 2008 20:59:59 GMT -8
And remember, there is a HUGE labour shortage at BCFerries. Jobs are coming up all the time. ...Probably in part due to the on-call game, of course--WSF has much the same problem. It's hard to get people who are already established at a certain financial level and ask them to step down to on-call, more or less working 'without a net,' so to speak.
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Post by Dane on Feb 3, 2008 22:34:59 GMT -8
Join the Navy Reserve, take courses in the low traffic season and work the summers for BC Ferries... you won't be rich but you won't be poor, either!
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Post by Guest on Feb 3, 2008 22:52:14 GMT -8
I do. Being on call sucks, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer and closer all the time.
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Post by Scott on Feb 3, 2008 22:57:11 GMT -8
Is the shortage mainly in terms of crew on the ferries or for terminal workers as well?
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Post by ferrytraveller on Feb 4, 2008 23:43:56 GMT -8
i would imagine that both ship and shore crew are short staff right now. Guest - if you don't mind my asking, how do you find it, working on call for BC Ferries?
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Post by kerryssi on Feb 7, 2008 17:22:56 GMT -8
They will call you out at a moments notice. You are not allowed another job and after 3 no-shows you are out. As you gain senority you will get farther up the call list and will get more notice of call out. It can take as long as 14 years at small terminals to get on full time. The wait is much shorter at larger terminals due to staff turnover. Be aware that if you want to be full time you will get lots of work in the summer but call out days will be few and far between in the winter. At this time aproximately half the 4500 employees are full time. The rest have been part time or casual in some instances for many years.
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Post by ferrytraveller on Feb 7, 2008 22:57:10 GMT -8
kerryssi, did you spend a quite a while as an on call employee? Does anyone know how many of the 4500 employees are shipboard employees??
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Post by Mike C on Feb 8, 2008 12:55:18 GMT -8
Hey, guys, just for your info: BC Ferries was handing out application forms at the last open-ship. I picked one up myself and had a look at it... I picked up the "Operations" and "Engineering" forms.
For those of you interested in working in with BC Ferries and/or somewhere else in the marine industry, I reccomend you pick one up and have a look at it for yourself. They will probably be handing them out at the Victoria Open Ship for those of you who are going.
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Post by kerryssi on Feb 8, 2008 14:32:25 GMT -8
It took me 8 years to get on full time on Saltspring. It probably would have taken less time at a major terminal. Be aware that starting wages and benefits are very poor. If you want to boost your chances get your MEDs ( Marine Emergency Duties...rescue boat, life raft and marine firefighting) This will cost you about $1000.00. You will also need first aid. Deck crews must have MEDs and first aid, everyone else must have first aid.
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Post by ferrytraveller on Feb 9, 2008 1:11:37 GMT -8
well lucky for me, i have taken all my MED courses, My Marine Advanced first aid and have a number of other courses, one of which is the simulated electronic navigation. so we'll see if that helps my chances.
what are the starting wages and benefits for on call deck hands?
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Post by kerryssi on Feb 10, 2008 12:39:23 GMT -8
Not sure what the starting wage is now. This is a new deal they have brought in since I retired. I believe it is about 2/3 of the regular wage but I am not cretain.
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Post by Barnacle on Feb 10, 2008 17:03:25 GMT -8
Y'know, I should also mention here that working for the ferry system that has been your hobby for umpteen years is a bit of a buzz-kill for your hobby. Take it from me.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
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Post by Neil on Feb 10, 2008 17:15:26 GMT -8
Y'know, I should also mention here that working for the ferry system that has been your hobby for umpteen years is a bit of a buzz-kill for your hobby. Take it from me. So then, about those 1500 posts on a ferry fan forum....
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