Newfoundland and Labrador has dodged a bullet after the two sides in the gulf ferry dispute reached common ground on enough key issues to scratch strike or lockout from the option list. But even just the talk of a drastic reduction in the number of Marine Atlantic crossings this summer was enough to give the business community a jolt according to the Board of Trade.
Had there been a strike by Unifor, crossings could have been reduced to three a week, meaning troubles in maintaining an adequate supply chain and probably leaving passengers on both sides stranded.
The CEO of the Board of Trade, AnneMarie Boudreau, says businesses have been working to find ways around a labour disruption.
She says a lot of planning was going on to figure out ways to bring in medical supplies, food and other goods in.
Boudreau says there were cancellations in the tourism sector.
The Marine Atlantic ferry terminal in Argentia (VOCM News)
“If tourists cannot predictably be able get to Newfoundland and Labrador, then leave Newfoundland and Labrador, that brings a lot of hesitation. So the news that there will not be a strike was definitely welcomed,” says the Board of Trade.
A collective agreement has not yet been reached, however discussions, with the help of a mediator, will resume the week of July 27th.
