Contract talks between Irving, shipyard workers headed to conciliation
Posted May 8, 2012 05:18:31 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Irving Shipbuilding and the union representing 1000 workers at the Halifax Shipyard are headed for conciliation.
The workers have been without a contract since December, and talks on a new three-year deal have been ongoing since January.
Canadian Auto Workers Atlantic representative Les Holloway tells News 95.7, with work about to begin on a $25 billion, 30-year contract, they are trying to get the best deal for their members.
“We’re just making sure we get everything right in the negotiating process, one that’s fair to the workers because that’s ourjob,” “We’re going to make sure that whatever deal we come back with is going to be fair to the workers in that shipyard.”
The union suspended negotiations last week amid frustration over a lack of progress, but Holloway says job action is not on the table at this point.
“That’s a tool that we can use if we have to, but we are way, way far from that,” he said. “The history is that we’ve always found a way to get to where we’ve got to be and I believe we’ll do that this time as well.”
Holloway wouldn’t get into specifics about the major sticking points, but says they have to do with working conditions – not money.
He says it’s been at least 30 years since the last strike at the shipyard.
