June 10, 1998
(Works, Services and Transportation)

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

Ferry service returning to normal

Marine Atlantic ferry service between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia should be back on schedule by late today, following yesterday's illegal walkout by unionized crew.

The striking employees returned to work early this morning, and MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood sailed from North Sydney at approximately 0330 AST.

The Smallwood will remain on a load-and-go basis today, and is expected to depart Port aux Basques in late morning. The scheduled 1600 sailing from Port aux Basques is cancelled. It is planned to sail on schedule from North Sydney at 2330 this evening.

Meanwhile, MV Caribou is undergoing scheduled maintenance, and will return to service late this week.

Marine Atlantic has been advised by the Canada Labour Relations Board that the Canadian Auto Workers and the Council of Maintenance Workers have agreed to what is known as a "consent order". By so doing, the unions acknowledge that yesterday's job action was illegal, and instruct their membership to return to work.

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

1998 06 10 11:40 p.m.