Blue-collar workers strike leaves Dorval Islanders high and dry

Ferry service and garbage pick-up disrupted since Saturday

By Ian Howarth

There’s only one way for the approximately 160 seasonal residents of Dorval Island to get there and that’s by water. As of last Saturday morning, however, a strike by the five blue-collar workers who work there — three of whom serve as ferry drivers to and from the island — has put a crimp in cottagers’ transportation plans as well as affecting garbage pick-up and general maintenance.

Fédération des travilleurs du Québec (FTQ) local 301 of the Syndicat canadien de la fonction public (SCFP) went on strike Saturday, taking many of the residents by surprise. Residents were temporarily stranded this weekend, some resorting to using motorboats to get to the Dorval ferry terminal or, in one case, a rowboat. Ottawa-based computer games designer Alex Smith had to cut his vacation short as a result of the strike. “It’s a bit problematic for my 84-year-old mother,” said Smith, who was renting his cousin’s cottage for the month. “If there was any medical emergency, without regular ferry service that could be dangerous.”

Dorval Island mayor Giselle Chapleau said there had been a few meetings called and cancelled in July and that it was not until July 26 that the SCFP presented their offer. Dorval council then hired lawyer/negotiator Rhéaume Perreault, who asked for a few weeks to study the offer.

“Nothing was really on the table,” said Chapleau. “The next thing we know, they (the SCFP local 301) sent us a notice to strike. We were stunned. Who makes one proposal, then doesn’t let negotiations begin?” Council subsequently turned their attention late last week to Montreal’s Essential Service Commission where they won the right to have ferry service four times daily during the week — two morning and afternoon runs — maintained. No weekend ferry service is being provided as part of the Essential Services Commission decision.

SCFP chief negotiator Marc Ranger said that the Dorval Island blue-collar workers contract is one of only two left to be settled, the other being with Montreal’s 5,500 blue-collar workers, who have been without a contract since 2006. “I don’t see why the residents of Dorval Island should be surprised by our strike,” said Ranger. “We had some discussions in July. We’re not trying to re-invent the wheel. We’re waiting for a signal that they’re prepared to do something retroactively. We’re ready to end the strike at the first signal.”

Ranger said if Perreault didn’t call him this week, he would take the initiative. The timing of the strike is not random, as the cottage season winds down after Labour Day and ferry service ends at the end of October. Ferry drivers currently make $21.50 per hour according to Ranger.

The union is looking for an average yearly increase of 2.5 percent retroactive to 2006 through to 2012 and benefits that include pension contributions and medical benefits.

It is the pension contributions and medical benefits for what essentially are seasonal employees that are likely to be major negotiation stumbling blocks. Dorval Island, the smallest incorporated municipality in Canada, has the dubious honour of being its most heavily taxed. The cost of ferrying people to and from the island is the town’s single biggest expense.