The Federal Bridge Corporation says the Blue Water Bridge is open and fully operational despite a strike by nearly 50 employees that started Monday morning.
Corporation spokesman Andre Girard says they have a contingency plan.
"As we announced earlier, our plan is to keep the bridge going," said Girard. "We have a plan in place and we will be running the bridge as long as needed."
Girard says management and non-unionized staff have obtained certification in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System as well as training for toll operation and other related bridge operation duties.
Maintenance personnel, toll collectors, and currency exchangers, members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 501, walked off the job at 6am Monday morning.
The union's national negotiator Hassan Husseini says keeping the traffic moving will not be easy heading into the American Thanksgiving Thursday and Black Friday.
"They're going to need a lot of experienced people on deck and I don't think they have them," said Husseini. "It's unfortunate that they have brought replacement workers and are paying replacement workers, scabs in other words, to do the work that our workers are supposed to be doing."
The workers have been without a contract since November 2014. They say the bridge corporation is trying to gut their collective agreement while management says it is not seeking major concessions and is offering a very generous comprehensive package.
No teller service is available at the Currency Exchange Office but ATMs will be available 24/7.
- With files From Melanie Irwin
Nearly 50 Blue Water Bridge employees have walked off the job. Members of @psacnat local 501 want new contract. Traffic still moving. #SLont pic.twitter.com/dWSyjiqHAJ
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) November 21, 2016
