Deer Island ferry privatization worries workers

Deer Island residents are concerned about the Department of Transportation’s decision to privatize their local ferry service.

Coastal Transport Ltd, the operator of the Grand Manan and White Head ferries will take over the service at the end of May.

The ferries are critical to virtually every person on Deer Island.

While Coastal Transport promises there will be no cuts to service, many people are nervous about the change.

Dianne Bustin said she and other Deer Island residents were shocked to hear the news about the ferry service being privatized.

She said the provincial government’s decision amounts to a broken election promise. 

"They're breaking a lot of promises. This is a major one. I feel bad for the people that have to worry about their jobs now. Deer Island's in bad enough shape now. It is hard to get a job," she said.

The provincial government will continue to own the ferries that connect Deer Island to the mainland. A new vessel is promised for 2014.

Bustin said it is critical the island continues to have a good, reliable ferry service.

Workers concerned

The looming privatization of the service means life has suddenly become uncertain for the ferry workers, some of whom have worked for the provincial government for decades.

Those employees will now be required to apply to Coastal Transport if they want to keep their jobs.

Andy Hardy, the local union president, said the employees have all been given applications for those jobs but no guarantees.

"There's really no guarantee for the workers that they are going to have a job, the only guarantee they got is an interview," he said.

Hardy said some of the employees may choose to stay with the Department of Transportation, but it would mean leaving the island for the ferries on the St. John River system.

Murray Ryder, the president of Coastal Transport, said the ferry crew sizes will remain the same.

"They know their service. They've been here. They've done that. And we're very hopeful that we're going to form a good partnership with the local crew," he said.

Ryder said, however, there could be changes on the administrative side.