The Provincial Government is hearing the concerns of impacted residents and is working hard to maintain essential services since the Canadian Merchant Service Guild’s decision to strike on August 25. Government remains committed to reaching an agreement with the Guild and believes strongly that a fair and reasonable offer has been made and urges the Canadian Merchant Service Guild to reconsider the offer.

The Honourable Steve Crocker, President of Treasury Board and the Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, would also like to clarify any confusion that may have been created as a result of recent comments made by the Canadian Merchant Service Guild related to the delay in negotiations and the request for a wage increase.

• The Provincial Government has always been available and open to negotiations throughout the past eight years. The Canadian Merchant Service Guild broke off negotiations in 2018 and chose to challenge our essential services designations before the Labour Relations Board, and subsequent appeals through the courts; our offers to return to the bargaining table throughout this period were declined and there had been no contact from the Guild until July 31, 2020 when they advised of their strike mandate.
• The offer made to ferry captains includes the same five per cent increase provided to the majority of public service employees between 2012-20, and also includes increases in shift differential and various allowances. In fact, agreement has been reached on these items;
• There are two issues remaining in dispute between the parties:
  1. The effective date of the wage increase, shift differential and allowances. In an effort to avoid a strike, government offered to apply the increases retroactive to January 1, 2020. The Guild is insisting upon a July 1, 2018 effective date.
  2. The Guild is insisting the current daily sailing schedules be written in the collective agreement. This action would limit our future operating flexibility and increase overtime costs.

We must consider these outstanding items in light of our current fiscal situation.

Ministers Crocker and Bragg will be available to the media at 12 p.m. today (Thursday, September 3) in front of the steps of Confederation Building, East Block.

Quotes
“There is a fair and reasonable offer on the table that balances the fiscal pressures we are experiencing as a province with the need to acknowledge the important work of ferry captains. I hope that they take advantage of this opportunity and re-consider the offer that remains on the table.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
President of Treasury Board

“Our government wants to find a solution to this strike and get the ferry captains back on the job. The quicker we can get them back, the quicker residents and businesses can get back to their normal lives. Let’s overcome these choppy waters and get back to moving people to and from their communities.”
Honourable Derrick Bragg
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

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Learn more
Public Advisory: Essential Service Ferry Schedules Being Implemented for Five Routes

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Media contacts
Chrysta Collins
Treasury Board
709-729-4839
chrystacollins@gov.nl.ca

Emily-Jane Gillingham
Transportation and Infrastructure
709-729-1758
emilygillingham@gov.nl.ca