SAINT JOHN, N.B. — The first negotiations in months between a Maritime bus service and the union representing locked-out workers have broken down.
Local 1229 of the Amalgamated Transit Union and Acadian Coach Lines spent 27 hours at the bargaining table over the weekend with a mediator.
Union president Glen Carr says the company walked away from the table Sunday night.
It was the first time both sides met since November.
Acadian locked out 59 bus drivers, maintenance workers and customers agents on Dec. 2, stopping intercity bus service in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
In a statement, Acadian spokesman Marc-Andre Varin said limited progress was made and the company is disappointed a deal couldn’t be reached.
The company has said it lost $7 million in eight years and it is looking for improvements in productivity in negotiations with the union.
No dates have been set for the two sides to return to bargaining.
