VICTORIA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) added its voice to the growing tide of outrage against the BC Ferries Marine Workers' Union and the illegal strike which has brought all ferry traffic to a halt.

"If this union had a measure of integrity, since it has shown no sign of sense to date, its picketing ferry workers would be draped in the Jolly Roger to show what pirates this union has become in illegally commandeering part of our highway system," said David Hanley, the CTF's BC director.

"What are some of the issues the union is trying to ram down the throats of taxpayers and the general public For one, the union claims that going to a 40-hour week, as demanded by the company, would be equivalent to a 12.5 percent pay cut," said Hanley. "The CTF's sympathy quotient is very low for a union that is trying to protect its workers' 35-hour work week when most civilized regions of the planet adhere to a work week that is nearly 260 hours longer over the course of the year, or nearly seven weeks' extra work."

Hanley added that moving to a regular work week means that the company's $9-million per year overtime bill will be reduced significantly. "When a ferry newsstand stockperson can make $21 per hour, or $38,376 per year, and claim double-time above an already-leisurely time commitment, it takes great courage by the union to claim this person will suffer in any way by a saner collective agreement."

Hanley noted that according to the union contract, an on-shore ticket agent, who collects our money or VISA, pushes a button and hands over a ticket, can make between $39,000 and $46,000 a year, plus benefits, not including overtime. That's more than a starting teacher.

The CTF also emphasized that just three years ago BC taxpayers watched over $1-billion written off in BC Ferries debt, only part of which ($460 million) can be blamed on the fast-ferry program.

"BC Ferries has been a rickety operation for years," said Hanley. "Now that the stewardship of BC Ferries has been handed over to a competent manager, taxpayers expect results that don't include caving in, at any point, to a union whose previous 'success' at the bargaining table left taxpayers high-and-dry."