24 October 2003

Canada foreman talks hit snag

The following article is excerpted from “The Journal of Commerce” edition of 23 October 2003.

Negotiations to finalize a contract between the Waterfront Foremen Employers Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 hit a snag after the union accused employers of refusing to implement several items agreed to Sept. 30 under federal mediation. Tom Dufresne, president of ILWU Canada, made the charge Wednesday but said talks will resume shortly. He did not specify what terms had been altered.

Dufresne said union members have voted on the pact but that the votes have not been counted since employers have now altered the package.

The local represents about 400 longshore foremen at major ports (schedules) in western Canada, including Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Fraser Port and Nanaimo. …

The pact is retroactive to Jan.1 this year and runs to March 31, 2007, and includes a 12.8 per cent increase in wages over the length of the contract.