June 4, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario – Employment and Social Development Canada
The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, today congratulated Seaspan ULC and the Canadian Merchant Service Guild on working together and agreeing to a mediation-arbitration process. The end result will be a new collective agreement that allows the employer and employees to pursue their work at Port Metro Vancouver and contribute to Canada’s international competitiveness.
A new collective agreement will cover 220 masters, mates, chief engineers and marine engineers on board vessels owned and/or operated by, or bareboat chartered to, Seaspan ULC. The collective agreement had expired on September 30, 2013.
Minister Leitch flew to Vancouver last Monday to meet the parties, encourage their cooperation and help them reach a negotiated agreement or agree to mediation-arbitration. The parties also received assistance from the federal Labour Program’s Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which provides dispute resolution and dispute prevention assistance to trade unions and employers under the Canada Labour Code.
Andrew McGrath
Press Secretary
Office of the Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, P.C., O.Ont., M.P.
Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women
819-953-5646
andrew.mcgrath@labour-travail.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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