Minister Leitch congratulates Seaspan ULC and the Canadian Merchant Service Guild for working together and agreeing to a mediation-arbitration process

OTTAWA, June 4, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, today congratulated Seaspan ULC and the Canadian Merchant Service Guild on working together and agreeing to a mediation-arbitration process. The end result will be a new collective agreement that allows the employer and employees to pursue their work at Port Metro Vancouver and contribute to Canada's international competitiveness.

A new collective agreement will cover 220 masters, mates, chief engineers and marine engineers on board vessels owned and/or operated by, or bareboat chartered to, Seaspan ULC. The collective agreement had expired on September 30, 2013.

Minister Leitch flew to Vancouver last Monday to meet the parties, encourage their cooperation and help them reach a negotiated agreement or agree to mediation-arbitration. The parties also received assistance from the federal Labour Program's Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which provides dispute resolution and dispute prevention assistance to trade unions and employers under the Canada Labour Code.

Quick Facts

• Port Metro Vancouver is Canada's largest and busiest port, accounting for 54 percent of Canada's international container traffic.
• The Port trades $172 billion in goods with 160 countries per year.
• Close to 100,000 Canadians earning $6 billion in wages depend on the activities linked to the Port.
• The Port contributes nearly $10 billion to Canada's GDP and more than $20 billion in economic output.

Quote

"I am pleased that Seaspan and the Canadian Merchant Service Guild worked together to agree upon a mediation-arbitration process. This cooperation allows the employer and employees to continue their important work at the Port, uninterrupted, and further contribute to Canada's international competitiveness." 
- The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women

Associated Link

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada

For further information:

Andrew McGrath
Press Secretary
Office of the Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, P.C., O.Ont., M.P.
Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women
819-953-5646
[e-mail],ca

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
[e-mail]

Follow us on Twitter