Monday May 12, 2008
For Immediate Release
Vancouver, BC – Long and difficult bargaining between Vancouver Shipyards – Vancouver Drydock and five Poly Party Unions including IAMAW Local Lodge 692, has produced a new collective agreement.
The five-year agreement provides wage increases of 4.25 per cent in each year and Health, Welfare and Pension increases of 20 cents per hour in each year. At the end of the agreement, the wages/HWP combined rate is $43.26 per hour – an increase of $7.96.
One of the contentious issues was the duration of the agreement. Initially, the Unions, IAMAW Local Lodge 692, Marine and Shipbuilders Local 506, IBEW Local 213, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 170 and COPE Local 15; proposed a three –year agreement while the company wanted eight years. The company’s demand was tied to the bidding on the Federal Joint Supply Ship project, which requires the successful bidder to provide assurances of labour peace for the term of the project. A compromise was reached through a Letter of Understanding that commits the parties to enter into negotiations for terms of an extension under the existing enabling clause (art. 12.27) in the collective agreement.
The 47 members of IAMAW Local Lodge 692 employed at Vancouver Shipyards – Vancouver Drydock include engine fitters, machinists and mechanics.
IAMAW, among the largest industrial trade unions in North America, represents more than 700,000 active and retired members, and administers more than 5,000 contracts in transportation, woodworking, aerospace, manufacturing and defense related industries.
For further information:
Stan Pickthall – IAMAW District Lodge 250 Directing Business Representative
604-513-3883/604-992-9145
Bill Trbovich – IAMAW Director of Communications
416-386-1789 ext 6331/416-735-9765
