TIMELINE | Acadian Coach Lines contract dispute
Acadian Coach Lines has been in contract negotiations with the union — Amalgamated Transit Union local 1229 — since early 2011.
The 59 drivers, maintenance workers and customer service representatives want at least a cost of living increase.
The bus company said its New Brunswick and P.E.I. operations are losing money and that it may need to cut jobs or raise ticket prices.
Acadian Coach Lines still runs in Nova Scotia because the company's employees in that province are part of a different union.
The timeline of events:
2011
Jan. 19: Union requests conciliator
Feb. 4,8-9: Labour management meeting
Feb. 12: Parties request extension of conciliation period
March 14: Company presented first contract offer (C1) to the union
March 15,16: Labour relations issues - union prepares their first offer (U1)
April 11-14: Labour relations issues and company supported union to prepare its U1
June 14-16: Company offer 2 and Union offer 2 presented
June 27-29: Company offer 3 and Union offer 3 presented
June 29: Parties request extension of conciliation period for Oct 31
Sept. 21-23: Negotiation cancelled, union unavailable
Sept. 22: Extension of conciliation period submitted
Sept. 27-29: Negotiation cancelled and management meetings with employees
Oct. 6,7: Conciliation session
Oct. 26-31: mediator meetings, ATU unavailable for Oct. 31
Nov. 24: strike notice given at midnight for possible strike Sunday, Nov. 27
Nov. 25: mediator meetings already scheduled; parties meet
Nov. 25: mediator asks ATU to delay strike notice and asks Acadian to prepare a full offer for a vote by employees on Nov. 27, 28
Nov. 28: union employees vote 88 per cent against Acadian’s offer
Nov. 29: Strike notice received – employees can go on strike anytime after 6:30 a.m. Dec. 2
Nov. 29: Acadian provided lockout notice for 6:30 a.m. Dec. 2 – to avoid the possible stranding of passengers if the actual strike was exercised at a later date, on a moment’s notice
Dec. 2: Lockout in effect
2012
Feb. 11: Both sides meet in Moncton for first time since Nov. 25. The company felt "limited progress" was made during about 27 hours of discussion over a two-day period.
April 29: Both sides returned to Moncton to resume talks. The union expressed confidence in resolving the prolongued dispute.