Wednesday August 14, 2013
For Immediate Release
Vancouver, BC – Members of IAM Local Lodge 692 have ratified a new collective agreement with Seaspan Vancouver Drydock, a division of Seaspan Marine Corporation.
The five-year agreement provides a wage increase of 2 per cent in the first year retroactive to March 2013 and wage increases of 2.5 per cent in the second and third year and 3 per cent in the fourth year and 3 per cent in the fifth year with Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) protection of up to 5 per cent. The agreement also provides a 20 cent per hour increase to Health and Welfare or Pension Plan contributions as determined by the membership. Other agreement highlights include :
• Family Day added to statutory holidays
• Voluntary Layoff language established to allow senior members to take layoffs so that members with lower seniority can stay on the job subject to government approval
“I think this agreement benefits both sides,” explained IAM District Lodge 250 Directing Business Representative Walter Gerlach. “Our members have progressive wage increases and improvements to both their pension and welfare benefit plans for the next five years while the length of the agreement gives the employer the ability to bid on repairs with the confidence of knowing they have a long term, agreement in place and with an idea of their labour costs moving forward.”
The 40 members include engine fitters, mechanics and machinists.
Seaspan Vancouver Drydock is the premier maritime repair and overhaul facility of the Port of Vancouver.
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For further information:
Walter Gerlach – IAM District Lodge 250 Directing Business Representative
604-513-3883/604-831-2611
Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications
416-386-1789 Ext#6331/416-735-9765