NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. — Marine Atlantic workers are organizing a rally this weekend to warn the community of Transport Canada’s plan to drop the ferry’s drop trailer service and to discuss the effects of the proposal on the regional economy.

The employees, who will hold the demonstration at Archibald’s Wharf on Sunday afternoon, fear the service would be privatized and moved to another port, reports the Cape Breton Post.

The recommendation to halt drop service comes from a Transport Canada advisory committee responsible for reviewing the ferry’s business model regarding the fleet, financial needs, quality of service, and long-term funding and pricing plans of the company.

Tim Haggett, president of the International Longshoremen’s Union, one of six unions representing Marine Atlantic workers, told the newspaper he hopes the rally will bring attention to the situation. He says the elimination of the service could mean the loss of about 200 jobs.

The trucking industry is divided over the proposal. The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, which represents the region’s largest for-hire carriers, has joined the unions and some area politicians in demanding the government maintain the drop service.

However, many owner-operators who rely on roll-on service have been complaining for years that drop trailer operations have interfered with them getting onto the ferry.

Truckers belonging to the Newfoundland and Labrador Independent Truckers Association wouldn’t shed a tear to see drop trailer go. President Jon Summers claims that his members are the ones with most at risk since, other than a handful of large carriers, it’s his members who transport 90 percent of the perishable goods to from North Sydney to Port Aux Basques.

The final report by Transport Canada is expected to be released this fall.

— with files from the Cape Breton Post.