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The union representing B.C. Ferries workers is gathering evidence in order to file a grievance after the company started laying off employees Saturday.

Graeme Johnston, president of the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union, said Ferries started calling his members Saturday morning to inform them they had been laid off.

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“No notice, no pay, but B.C. Ferries will give an employee $500 if and when recalled,” he said, calling the extent to which the company is disregarding its obligations under the collective agreement staggering. “I can’t begin to tell you how upset, disappointed and angry I am.”

According to the union, all employees must receive notice of layoff and an option of severance pay.

B.C. Ferries announced Friday that it would be laying off as many as 1,400 workers and cutting service levels in half starting Saturday due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With traffic down close to 80 per cent across its network, B.C. Ferries estimates it is losing between $1.25 million and $1.5 million each day.