91% of Hullo Ferries' workers vote in favour of strike | Daily Hive

Hullo Ferries. (Danita Delimont/Shutterstock)

An overwhelming majority of the crew and staff for Hullo Ferries have voted in favour of job action, according to an announcement by BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union (BCFMWU) late this afternoon.

Members of the union began voting over the Labour Day long weekend, with voting concluding earlier today.

The union representing the workers on the privately owned and operated high-speed passenger ferry service between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo was formed in September 2024.

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According to BCFMWU, they were unable to reach the first-ever collective agreement with the workers after a year of negotiations. Their members are seeking “fair wages, predictable schedules, and job security.”

“This result shows just how united Hullo workers are. They know their worth and they’re ready to fight for it,” said Eric McNeely, president of BCFMWU, in response to the vote results.

“Our members want to keep serving passengers under conditions that respect the skill and training their jobs demand. Ferry travel requires moving people safely through terminals, navigating busy shipping lanes, safety drills, emergency response and ship maintenance to ensure hundreds of people get across the strait safely every day. That professionalism deserves respect in their first agreement.”

Hullo Ferries. (Kate Scott/Shutterstock)

The union asserts that the strike vote was conducted after the company declared an impasse after the union presented a counterproposal last week. The union claims the company made one counterproposal of its own over the past year.

There is no indication of when potential job action impacting ferry services could begin. BCFMWU is holding a meeting tomorrow night with its roughly 80 members to go over the results and decide what to do next.

In a statement to Daily Hive Urbanized late this afternoon, Hullo Ferries says they have communicated with the union and have jointly agreed to return to the table to negotiate. There are no disruptions to services at this time.

“Hullo and the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union spoke this afternoon and jointly agreed to return to negotiations. Operations will continue without disruption, and all sailings will be maintained as scheduled. Safe, consistent, and reliable delivery of our service is paramount while seeking a negotiated resolution that meets the needs of our employees and our business,” reads the company’s statement.

BCFMWU also represents the workers on BC Ferries.

Hullo Ferries has seen success with its service, providing multiple round-trips per day between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo, with end-to-end travel times of approximately 70 minutes. They are also known not only for their regular scheduled sailings, but also late-night special event sailings — providing Vancouver Island residents with a more convenient and lower-cost way of attending concerts, sports games, and other major events in downtown Vancouver.

Earlier this summer, Hullo Ferries shared that they have become a vital new option for over 50,000 families. Later in September 2025, the service is expected to reach and exceed the milestone of recording its first one million passengers. Hullo Ferries recently marked its second anniversary; the service first launched in mid-August 2023.

Currently operating with a fleet of two 350-seat, high-speed catamaran vessels, the company has ambitions to grow its fleet size to further improve its route between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo, and launch a second route between downtown Vancouver and Victoria.

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