Acadian Bus Lines Closure as of November 30th, 2012 [Updated]

The buses have been running since the middle of May after a six month Lock Out/Work Stoppage. As a reminder they threatened to go on strike, and in return the company locked the employees out. Months of negotiations went horribly wrong due to the negligence of both sides until a new Vice President stepped in, and the lock out ended.
A few days ago this notice appeared on the Acadian website upon entering it. Highlighted along the top is a closure date of November 30th. They company is in debt, more so then they would probably like to admit to the public. As of the work stoppage they lost out on Christmas, Easter, March Break, and the End of the School year regulars they would have received. Since they have returned their service the company has had to cut several routes, as well as schedules due to lack of employees. This is going to affect all of the Maritimes this time, including Nova Scotia which was lucky enough to have a different union during the lock out, and received raises unlike New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Around 120 employees will be losing their jobs as of the closure. Acadian Bus Lines Shutting Operations by November - Prince Edward Island - CBC News is a shorter article which entails most of the information from the notice on the site.
As the lock out occurred several companies tried to step in but the government would not allow it. Acadian was still around technically, and paying the government. With Acadian leaving completely there is more of a chance that a new company will step in. Trius a tour bus company is already planning to attempt that as noted in this article: Trius Bus Company Plans  to Fill Void Left by Acadian - New Brunswick - CBC News.
N.S. Government, Union Open to talks with Acadian Lines - Prince Edward Island - CBC News This last article entails the fact that Acadian might have been able to stay afloat if the government would allow them to change some of the routes that are existing. There are times when there are only two, or three customers on the bus, and personally I have been in that situation before.
This announcement is the beginning of a lot of turmoil. Personally I am upset because that is how I get home for Christmas, and once again this year I will be fighting to get home. Now once again not to mention all the other students who depend upon a bus system. The VIA Rail does not go to every single city in Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, and not to mention there no longer is a train to the Capital of New Brunswick, and there hasn't been for at least 20 years. Hopefully another bus system can step in, and everything will be okay.

--{UPDATE}--
There has been news of VIA Rail helping out a new bus company if we get another one in the Maritimes because VIA Rail has not been doing well financially either lately.

Acadian Bus Lines New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Work Stoppage Finished

The tentative deal was made up in the late evening of May 2nd with the help of a mediator, and the new Vice President Denis Gallant for the company who hails from the Maritimes in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Voting of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1229 occurred Sunday May 6th. Even before the voting Glenn Carr, president of the Union said his co-workers would probably accept it, and they did with 92% in favour.
After a "five month contract dispute" (They were locked out by the company after voting 98% to go on strike December 2nd, 2011, so more like 6 months) buses will be gradually running within ten days. They are giving time to get employees back as well as buses, because a lot of them were sent out of the province after the strike started.
It wasn't even money that was the problem to begin with it was the working conditions as well. I still did not see it fit to have a company over four provinces, and give raises, and better benefits to Nova Scotia, and Quebec, and not Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick.
A lot of people are still throwing the "I am never using your service again", and honestly they can throw that threat around, but the train is limited in schedule, and locations like mentioned in a previous entry. Some people do not like the idea of Ride shares too so they are stuck riding the bus. There are also others trying to get Greyhound into the province. With Acadian back we do not need another bus, I mean I have heard about Greyhound being amazing, but it would take time to move it out here, and it would probably be difficult. Common sense doesn't exist sometimes.
I am very excited to have the company working again in New Brunswick as it will be easier to travel. At the first of the strike I was infuriated, and sent the most ridiculous email saying I would never use their services again. I emailed them two months later with a more well written, and respectable email saying mostly what I have been in previous entries about the strike.
Great to have them back, now hopefully now that there is better work conditions coming for the employees the service will improve as well.


Older Posts About the Strike (Newest to Oldest):
Acadian Bus Lines Strike End in View
Acadian Bus Lines Negotiations Fail
Acadian Bus Lines Possible Arbitration
Acadian Bus Lines New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island Strike

Acadian Bus Lines Strike End in View

The last scheduled talks that occurred in February fell through.
Scheduled talks on April 29th, 30th, and May 1st extended into May 2nd with the help of a mediator at the table. This article: Acadian Lines Dispute May End Next Week, Says Union basically stated what has been know for a long time, the company is the problem at the moment, and not the Union who wants to get back to work. The company has a new Vice President who is from Atlantic Canada, which ultimately is going to help. This was the first light of hope we seen in a long time since the fallout in February: Talks Resume in Acadian Bus Dispute. Though information comes through faster on the Acadian FaceBook Page. You also get to read a lot of things of interest.
There was an attempt to a shuttle into the province but there were too problems; the reservation system, and the 15 seat-van. I read one comment that was completely unnecessary saying: "the woman of Northern New Brunswick need to get off their soap box about the whole thing", they lost their children in the Boy in Red 2008 accident with a similar vehicle. There was no need of a comment like that.... I did not like the idea of a shuttle myself, I looked up information, and found they were quite expensive, and the reservation system made it difficult.
On May 2nd the Facebook page announced that negotiations were continuing on that day which is something that has not occurred in the past. Before these negotiations it was said they wanted to reach an agreement. Today another status appeared on Acadian's FaceBook saying that late last night a decision had been made, and this article also appeared: Acadian Lines Union to Vote Deal on Sunday. The head of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1229 thinks that the others will accept the deal. If so the buses will be running again in about two weeks hopefully.

Personally I feel that the talks were scheduled late, but it is the company in control, and not the Union. Most Universities/Colleges are done in April, so anyone wanting to to go to PEI, NS, and NFLD would have difficulties, including travelers trying to get past, or through New Brunswick. VIA Rail is a great way to travel, do not get me wrong, and it is cheaper than the bus, but the scheduled times are horrible, and some cities do not even have train stations. It will be nice to have the bus back, and not have to rely on Kijiji Ride-shares, or hunt through friends to see who is traveling home. Hopefully there are no idiots who screw this up for everyone because there is always a few who will try.

Older Posts About the Strike (Newest to Oldest):
Acadian Bus Lines Negotiations Fail
Acadian Bus Lines Possible Arbitration
Acadian Bus Lines New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island Strike

Acadian Bus Lines Negotiations Fail

Photo taken by me in Sackville, New
Brunswick.

Almost a month went by with no news showing up from the Acadian Bus Lines in the news, or on their FaceBook page. The this showed up out of nowhere after I checked on February 4th: Acadian Lines Employees Pick Up Work (PEI CBC News). This basically told everyone that the works of Amalgamated Transit Union 1229 employees are picking up work at other establishments to make money, which is great for them but it really isn't what the public wants to see, and it was quite infuriating.
Two days later on February 6th another article was released from the local newspaper on Prince Edward Island called "The Guardian." Bus Line and Locked Out Workers Going Back to the Negotiating Table (The Guardian - PEI) ATU 1229, and Acadian Lines Respresentatives went back to the table on February 11th with the help of a mediator, and negotiations lasted all day, and continued into Sunday. The workers, and Acadian have not spoken since November 25th, and the lockout and strike had lasted since December 2nd.
According to this article: Acadian Line Contract Negotiations Continue (PEI CBC News), Acadian lost around $2 million dollars running the intercity coaches in New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island in the last year. This is not surprising because there are so many routes that are unneeded, and unprofitable in the province of New Brunswick where as there are two daily trips to one stop on Prince Edward Island. But in the two plus months that there was no service in either province quite a bit of revenue was lost because it was one of the busiest time of year being the Christmas/New Year season. Acadian has probably received their share of angry emails, and even on FaceBook you can see people are angry, but a lot of stupid/amusing things are said. The workers did want to work this out from the beginning. The economy is horrible, and the price of living has increased, and honestly I do not think it is fair that the Nova Scotia, and Quebec workers received a raise while New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island were left high, and dry. The strike/lock out is always the worst way to deal with these types of problems though.
We are in the third month, and after the negotiations this weekend it failed horribly, and I quote "In fact we feel that there is a lack of seriousness, and willingness to resolve the issues on the part of the union. No dates are set to return to the table." The company was better run when Irving owned Acadian, and even when we had the Greyhound buses in the province. This is getting quite ridiculous, and I cannot believe they are still going to leave two provinces with an intercity bus system." To wake up to this this morning is ridiculous. Acadian Lines Talks Fail to Resolve Dispute (CBC News PEI)
During this strike shuttles are available so I peeked on the prices, and the bus is a lot cheaper, and so is the train if you are lucky enough to live in a town, or city with a train. The prices for a shuttle are ridiculous considering you had to book it, and share it with people but it is hard to find people who would be traveling to the same place. Also they are the 15 passenger vans that have been banned in New Brunswick after an incident  in 2008 that killed seven school students, and the wife of the coach from Bathurst High. I won't go in any van bigger than a standard size myself after hearing about that incident. I was in high school myself at the time in grade eleven, and it was a horrible tragedy.
For previous information on the strike I have written two other blog articles:
Acadian Bus Lines New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island Strike
Acadian Bus Lines Possible Arbitration - Update

Enterprise Fawcett (Updated)

 Enterprise Fawcett is located in Sackville, New Brunswick, and was built in 1852. It was a small business started by R.M. Dixon. They specialize in wood stoves, and sell other appliances at current as well as refrigerators, and air conditioners. In 1908 part of the building was ravaged by a fire, and rebuilt.
The place has been through a lot in the last 20 years including a strike/lockout because most of the workers wanted a raise. In 2009 Mike Wheaton the owner passed away, and the company was passed onto his brother Darren. In 2011 the roof collapsed in two places (over the molding shop) due to heavy snowfall. A worker was in the building but no where near the collapses. It is one of the last foundries in Canada, and is a heritage site.

Snow Causes Collapse at Enterprise Fawcett Foundry in Sackville - The Sackville Tribune Post

This evening the piece that collapsed the year previously "burst into flames." Sackville firefighters arrived but Amherst was also called in. There were two explosions from propane, and the flames were very angry looking. From what I have heard the flames are quite nasty, and it won't stop so the building will be gone by morning. After more is found I will be updating the situation of the fire. In the end the old molding shop previously destroyed, and the offices were taken out by the blaze. The fire started at 7:30, and went well into the night.

Photos by: Dannika Phinney

Video by: JohnSPower

Sackville N.B.'s Enterprise Foundry Burned to the Ground (The Guardian)

Personally I have had a few experiences with the foundry. Several of my family members work there, and one still currently does. I would go into the office as a child, and the boss would tease me, and I would see my Aunt. There was a few times I did get to go in the actually foundry including the molding shop. This was the only place I managed to get a bursary from when I graduated high school. The place remotely smells of soot, and ash, and was a smell I became familiar with because of my Father. Though this place scared me from time to time with my Father coming home with injuries, and ultimately angered me when fellow co-workers of the union during the strike made fun of him because he still worked despite the lockout, and the strike. My father still owns a stove by them, and my grandmother owns a wood stove from them as well. This is another heritage building in the city of Sackville, New Brunswick we have lost due to fire.

Photos by: Coldwar_Bonnet

Enterprise Fawcett Official Site

Acadian Bus Lines New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island Strike

Acadian Lines Intercity Coach picking
up passengers at a designated point
along the routes. (Photo taken by me).

I have been hearing since October that Acadian Bus Lines, an Intercity Coach might go on strike in early, middle, or the end of November. There usually is no, ifs, ands, or buts, there usually is a strike...  Great time to go on strike though, next month is Christmas season, and thousands of university, and college students that use the bus to travel home will be out of luck.
It all started with Acadian Bus Talk Falls Apart - Prince Edward Island, this was released on CBC News on November first, and says there would be a strike starting November first. The management walked out before wages were even discussed. There is all disagreement on the bus drivers scheduled shifts but these are set by rules already made up. The negotiations where shut down a day early.
Today November 24th this: Acadian Lines Workers Give Strike Notice - New Brunswick was released on CBC News. There was negotiations this morning to try, and prevent a walk out. Orleans workers in Quebec received a raise as well as Acadian Nova Scotia workers. New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island workers did not. Most of the Acadian Routes in New Brunswick, are unprofitable. This is because there are a lot of stops at smaller towns, and there are not a lot of customers in those towns that there are stops at.
In my opnion there should be stops at these locations in New Brunswick: Sackville, Moncton, Fredericton, St. John, Miramichi, Campbellton, Edmundston, and St. Stephens.
They are officially not operating as of Friday, December 2nd.
My general opinion on strikes is not a good one. While yes the workers want a raise this is quite the immature way to go about it. It speaks to me as "We want more money, and until something is done about it we shall not work for." It was the same when the teachers went on strike about six years ago, and when my Father's workplace went on strike around ten years ago. Though sometimes there are others that actually want to work, and still get paid depending on the situation that is not a possibility. I use the Acadian Intercity Coaches to travel, and I have received horrible service in the past two years, and this has made me dislike them further