Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Aug 05/05) - 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.

Ferry service across the Liard River at Fort Simpson could be in jeopardy by mid-month if unionized mariners do not come to terms with Rowe's Construction, their employer.

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 can't even agree what articles should be included in the collective agreement. They haven't even discussed wages yet, he noted.

A conciliation officer, who had been attempting to bring the sides together, has withdrawn from the dispute.

However, 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. They (the GNWT) better have their game-plan in place," Canvin said. "If it goes down then they better have (replacement workers) brought in the same day, in the same hour."

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" saidBob Kelly, manager of public relations for the Department of Transportation. Although he said 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.