Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Aug 08/05) - Workers on the Lafferty ferry are prepared to walk off the job as early as Aug. 15 if they can't negotiate improved benefits from their employer, Rowe's Construction.

On July 21, talks broke down between the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents the six crew members, and Rowe's Construction, which operates the ferry on contract to the GNWT.

The two sides have not been able to come to terms since the ferry workers were unionized in February 2004.

Dave Thompson, a negotiator for PSAC, said the parties haven't discussed wages and can't even agree what articles should be included in the collective agreement.

The two sides are scheduled to return to the table on Aug. 10. Jack Rowe, one of the owners of Rowe's Construction, acknowledged that his company deems the ferry a "very important service," but not an essential one.

A ferry shut-down would affect the 1,250 residents of Fort Simpson and another 160 people in Wrigley.

Duncan Canvin, president of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce, said businesses in the community can ill-afford to order months of stock in advance. He said he considers it the government's responsibility to ensure the service is somehow maintained. "Certainly the ferry is an essential service. (The government) better have their game-plan in place," Canvin said.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche said he isn't taking sides in the dispute, but he expects the government to regard the river shuttle as an essential service.

The territorial government is watching the situation "very closely," said Bob Kelly, manager of public relations for the Department of Transportation. Although the GNWT is exploring options if a strike or lock-out should occur, he declined to discuss specifics.

There is one year remaining on Rowe's ferry contract with the GNWT, according to Jack Rowe.