June 9, 1998
(Works, Services and Transportation)

The following is being distributed at the request of Marine Atlantic:

Illegal work stoppage disrupts ferry service

An illegal work stoppage has halted Marine Atlantic ferry service between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Unionized crew members walked ashore from MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood at North Sydney at approximately 1:30 p.m. ADT today.

At the same time, the crew left MV Caribou which is out of service for annual pre-season maintenance. Maintenance employees at the North Sydney and Port aux Basques ferry terminals have also stopped work.

While no reason for the job action has been given, the company assumes it is related to the current round of collective bargaining with the Canadian Auto Workers and the Council of Maintenance Workers.

The 1500 departure from North Sydney this afternoon and the 2330 sailing from Port aux Basques tonight have both been cancelled. It is not known when service will resume.

Marine Atlantic is pursuing legal channels in an effort to put an end to the illegal job action.

Contact: Ted Bartlett, Director Public Relations, (709) 772-5731, (506) 851-3611.

1998 06 09 4:25 p.m.