Irving Shipbuilding defends decision to bring in international workers
Posted Mar 2, 2017 06:12:55 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – The Irving Shipyard has released a statement in reaction to news the company is hiring foreign companies to work on a portion of the Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessels currently under construction.
The company says that from time to time there is a need to hire individuals for skilled positions with international experience to augment their employees.
Irving also says most of the workers coming from abroad will eventually become Canadian citizens, and will continue to work in the shipbuilding industry.
Irving has hired the Spanish firm Gabaldi LC., who specializes in interior furnishings, for the work and they are expected to hire 80 per cent of the positions on the job for the first vessel under construction from Canada, and that number is expected to increase to 95 per cent by the time the sixth ship is built.
Irving also says that is entered into an agreement with Unifor Local 1 to ensure that all 33 shipyard employees that would be impacted by this contract would not lose their jobs as a result.
