Victoria Shipyards – Tentative Agreement Reached

Your union, along with the Boilermakers, worked through the weekend and into late last night to reach what we feel is the best agreement possible.

After exchanging comprehensive packages back and forth with the employer a few times, and not agreeing to the conditions they were trying to impose, we arrived at a package that we felt was worthy of recommending.

During our virtual membership meeting on March 22, we made it clear that there were three main contentious items on the bargaining table, and also wages. Those items were surrounding removal of seniority for the Boilermakers, implementation of a 7-day per week schedule with increased hours of work over either three or four days, and removal of a second break. The membership made it clear that there was no room for any of those in the collective agreement.

We are pleased to announce that, due to the hard work of your bargaining committee, and your amazing support with the strike vote, the employer has removed the three contentious items. The wage package that we have agreed on is as follows:

• 2% March 1, 2021 (full retroactivity)
• 3% March 1, 2022 (full retroactivity)
• 2.5% *March 1, 2023
• 2.5% *March 1, 2024
• 2.5% *March 1, 2025

(*or COLA up to a maximum of 3% if the Victoria annual all items CPI exceeds 2.7% in the year prior to the increase)

With respect to LOU 7, the MoveUP specific portion of the collective agreement, there were some minor housekeeping updates and the addition of some language that’s currently in the Employment Standards Act. The reason for the addition of this language into the agreement is to ensure members are aware of what they are entitled to under the Act.

Your unions will be wholeheartedly recommending accepting of this package and while we understand that the wage package may not necessarily be as high as you wanted, but it is a fair and reasonable wage increase.

Your union, and the other unions involved, will be scheduling informational meetings in the coming days. As soon as the details for the ratification process are arranged, we will let you know.

Thank you again for the amazing support you showed this round of bargaining.

In solidarity,

Yudon Garie, Union Representative