Judge grants injunction against 11 truckers

FREDERICTON, NB, April 25 – A Fredericton judge has granted an injunction against 11 New Brunswick gravel haulers accused of blocking a main highway, throwing rocks, and verbally threatening other drivers bringing gravel to a the Fredericton-Moncton highway project.

The Daily Gleaner wrote that the truckers were protesting low rates for drivers working on the government project, and are demanding pay closer the fixed government rate.

A group of subcontractors working for the Maritime Road Development Corporation asked for the injunction last week, alleging that the truckers and the Tri-County Association of Gravel Truck Operators-also named in the injunction-were involved in illegal action during the protest.

Although he gave an injunction, Justice David Russell amended the one proposed by the subcontractors’ lawyer, who wanted to include the names “John Doe, Jane Doe, and Persons Unknown” on the order. This would have allowed the injunction to cover any New Brunswick citizen. Russell also limited the order to the area surrounding Barton Quarry rather than several MRDC gravel-hauling sites requested by the plaintiffs.

The subcontractors still plan further legal action, including a possible court case against the truckers.