Transportation minister advises of services available during labour action

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, today advised the general public of services available as a result of labour action taken by public sector unions.

Essential services agreements were signed by government and the public sector unions for marine, road maintenance and air services.

The marine essential services agreement, signed by both parties, allows for one scheduled round trip per day on the six services affected: Bell Island, St. Brendan�s, Fogo Island/Change Islands, Long Island, Little Bay Islands and Ramea. The departure crossing for the vessel�s tie-up location will be no earlier than 9:00 a.m. All return crossings will depart not later than 3:00 p.m., as per the essential services agreement, resulting in the following departure times:

Portugal Cove                   3:00 p.m.
Burnside                          3:00 p.m.
Farewell                           3:00 p.m.
Pilley�s Island                   3:00 p.m.
Shoal Arm                       3:00 p.m.
Burgeo                            3:00 p.m.

"During the labour disruption, services will be reduced to emergency levels," said Minister Rideout. "I recommend that people who use the ferry to travel to and from work make alternate arrangements."

With respect to the one scheduled daily trip, priority will be given to passengers with medical appointments (including laboratory and x-ray), dental and physiotherapy appointments and bereavement, and to medical personnel and police, fire and other emergency service personnel responding to a crisis situation. The remaining space will be made available to passengers on a first-come, first-served basis.

In the event of emergencies, additional emergency ferry trips will operate; however these trips are not intended to accommodate regular passengers.

The roads services agreement allows for two categories of essential services. The department will have regular on-call personnel, with varying numbers of maintenance operations staff and management officials per unit. There is also an emergency on-call category that allows for additional employees to be called in the event of adverse winter weather; however, during the labour disruption, the department will not be able to provide the usual level of winter service.

The level of air ambulance services will be provided as normal.

Members of the public are advised to call (709) 729-2300 for further information on the above services.

Media contact: Christine King, Communications, (709) 729-1758, or (709) 685-3415

2004 04 01                                        1:15 p.m.