6319 replies to this topic

[lanforod]

Says the guy who is always snarky!

[Nparker]

Says the guy who is always snarky!

So I know of what I speak.

[Victoria Watcher]

B.C. Ferries is warning customers to expect service disruptions in the coming weeks and months as the fast-spreading Omicron COVID-19 variant — and the flu season — takes a toll on staff.

 

Spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said a vaccination requirement has already reduced crew availability and a global shortage of professional mariners has made it difficult to hire replacement staff.

 

She said routes could also be affected by more severe weather.

 

The biggest impact could be on routes to or between small islands, said Marshall.

 

B.C. Ferries employs about 5,000 workers on the coast.

 

The corporation said in November that all employees and contractors who work on board vessels needed to have their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 15 and their second dose by Jan. 24. The remainder of B.C. Ferries’ workers must be fully vaccinated by Feb. 28.

 

The company has said failure to meet the deadlines will result in employees being put on leave without pay.

Eric McNeely, president of the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union, said the vaccination rate among its 4,000-plus members is about 80%, but varies by region.

 

https://www.timescol...es-says-4940663

 

 

 

Varies by region.  It's probably lowest in the northeastern part of the province.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 January 2022 - 06:39 PM.

[Nparker]

...Varies by region.  It's probably lowest in the northeastern part of the province.

[North Shore]

 

a global shortage of professional mariners has made it difficult to hire replacement staff.

 

https://www.timescol...es-says-4940663

 

 

The problem isn't a 'global shortage of professional mariners' - it's a BC Ferries shortage of dollars to pay those mariners.  

[Mike K.]

And mariners who arrive here, and realize the cost of living is too high to make it viable relative to their pay.

You think the situation is bad now, just wait for when there won’t be jobs to turn down.

[North Shore]

You think the situation is bad now, just wait for when there won’t be jobs to turn down.

 

Mike, not following what you're saying here?

[Mike K.]

We are experiencing the greatest automation transition in history at the moment, propelled at a faster rate due to a lack of willing labour participation.

When jobs go unfilled, and employers are impacted, they find ways to automate, outsource, and introduce efficiencies.

[Victoria Watcher]

When jobs go unfilled, and employers are impacted, they find ways to automate, outsource, and introduce efficiencies.

 

As they always have though.  Are you sure today is any larger than other times?

 

For example:

 

 

So with all the money you save on lighting, you take a Mexico trip and employ people to build and run planes, airports, hotels and restaurants.  In 1750 BC less people did major Mexico vacations.  A few social media influencers still did, if they had lots of followers in adjacent caves.  But most people were too busy working for that hour of light.

 

Hand tools > machinery (800 to 1600's) > powered machinery (early 1800's) > cars (early 1900's) > computers (70's) > internet (90's) > AI/automation (today)

 

I'm not sure the latest bump is the largest ever displacer.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 January 2022 - 09:19 AM.

[Barrrister]

The ability to automat a look of jobs is changing at a very fast pace. Notice the reduction of people at checkouts. Self cheque is becoming the nom at all the box stores.  Warehouses are more automated. We are at the verge of automated trucks. The change is a lot slower than some have forecast but it is still creeping along. Just look at staffing levels at the big banks.

[Nparker]

Automation: where the customer does more work and the business makes more profit.

[Mike K.]

Oh yeah, great points Watcher.

Let me rephrase that by saying then that we’re on the cusp of the latest mass transition.

[North Shore]

We are experiencing the greatest automation transition in history at the moment, propelled at a faster rate due to a lack of willing labour participation.

When jobs go unfilled, and employers are impacted, they find ways to automate, outsource, and introduce efficiencies.

Interesting.  In aviation, there is lots of chat about automated aeroplanes - the general consensus is it's going to go down to a one-pilot plane first, before it (if ever) goes to a zero-crew machine.  I haven't heard of the same discussion in maritime circles.

 

That being said, I'd hazard a guess that we are at least a decade away from automated ships; in the interim, if the BCFC wants to be properly crewed, then make the job more attractive to qualified people than the job that they currently have...

[Victoria Watcher]

It seems to me if an airliner is in trouble, why not patch in 10 pilots/technicians in two-way video to help out?

That seems like easy tech available now.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 January 2022 - 10:14 AM.

[North Shore]

^Sure, but what are the costs to pay those people to be on call 24/7/365, current on the machine they're being asked to troubleshoot/assist with, and the associated costs of completely reliable communication, and a person sitting in the aeroplane who has the skill and knowledge to act upon the advice they're being given?

[Victoria Watcher]

It’s not very high at all. Because there are over 30,000 passenger planes and less than 1 per day needs this type of help. So it adds 30 cents to your airfare.

30,000 planes. 4 legs per day average. 120,000 flights x 30 cents = ~ $40,000 per day for the crack team.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 January 2022 - 10:27 AM.

[Matt R.]

We are experiencing the greatest automation transition in history at the moment, propelled at a faster rate due to a lack of willing labour participation.

When jobs go unfilled, and employers are impacted, they find ways to automate, outsource, and introduce efficiencies.

Of course. Even in my industry we are all making do with less and planning on doing that for the foreseeable future. When the tide turns, and it always does, many of the jobs going unfilled today will simply not exist anymore, as operators find ways to work around the holes.

BC Ferries will have a tougher time in the short term, with all those Transport Canada crew regulations.

Ferries has definitely not kept pace with wages and have been relying on overtime to make the system work for a long time.

[Mike K.]

I'm hearing it's the same story at BC Transit, where overtime is the only way for the system to function. But eventually drivers meet their weekly driving maximum and have to step away due to regulations.

[Victoria Watcher]

I'm hearing it's the same story at BC Transit, where overtime is the only way for the system to function. But eventually drivers meet their weekly driving maximum and have to step away due to regulations.

 

Literally most high school students are likely better drivers than some BCT drivers.  Maybe we should make it a Grade 11 and 12 credit course.  Nobody is better equipped to take those PM rush trips than high school drivers.  Bus driver would be a cool part-time job for students.  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 January 2022 - 12:55 PM.

[Mike K.]

I dunno, the bar is set pretty high. There's high turnover though, when after a few months drivers are forced out after cracks appear that weren't evident during training.