Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is urging Acadian Lines and its workers to come together to reach an agreement.
Mechanics, maintenance workers, drivers and customer service representatives in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island gave their 72-hour notice to strike today.
Ashley Kelahear, press secretary to the minister, said Raitt is disappointed the two sides haven’t been able to reach an agreement and the union felt it necessary to initiate strike action.
Workers and Acadian Lines are negotiating today and Friday in Moncton and Kelahear said the minister is monitoring how those talks go.
Raitt threatened back-to-work legislation against Air Canada flight attendants earlier this year, saying it was necessary to protect the economy from a strike that could have grounded much of the country’s air travel.
Kelahear couldn’t say if Raitt was considering similar legislation with Acadian Lines workers. She said the government pursues the legislation if it’s in the best interest of Canadians and the economy.
“Right now the focus remains on the parties making a decision and coming to an agreement on their own.”
Chantal Whitman, vice-president student services of the University of New Brunswick student union, said it’s a terrible time for Acadian Lines to go on strike.
“I believe it will have a huge negative effect on students if this strike does happen and lasts a while. I’m sure a ton of students rely on this service to get to and from home during the Christmas break,” Whitman said in an email.
Acadian Lines workers have been without a contract since Dec. 31.
In October, 98 per cent of the workers – who are members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1229 in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island – voted to strike.
Denise Sirios, a spokeswoman for Acadian Lines, was interviewed by The Aquinian in late October and said bus service would likely be interrupted if the workers went on strike.
“Obviously the service will be disturbed but we don’t have any plan at this point,” Sirios said. “We’re really working to come to an agreement with our employees.”
Glen Carr, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1229, said the main sticking points between the two parties are wages, seniority and pension benefits.
Talks broke down at the beginning of November and workers accused the bus line of bad faith bargaining.
Acadian Lines nearly went on strike in 2008 over the same issues, Carr said, but a deal was reached at the eleventh hour.
“We’re not looking for a lot of money. We’re looking for the cost of living,” Carr said.
More to come as the story develops.
