The 70-some longshoremen at the Baie-Comeau Port, QC signed a new collective agreement yesterday with working conditions of regular and casual employees improving significantly, especially with respect to vacation and various premiums.
They obtained wage increases averaging out to 2.12% annually over five years.
“Negotiations not only produced a renewed collective agreement but also sparked discussions on several subjects aimed at improving operations and communications between the parties. We are satisfied with the outcome of these negotiations,” mentioned Gilles Hovington, President of CUPE 5159.
Longshoremen at the Baie-Comeau Port regularly load and unload ships at the federal port and the Alcoa port and terminal. They had been without a collective agreement since November 1, 2018.
“This 5-year collective agreement has not only made for more secure working conditions but also gave peace of mind to the employer, who seems intent on gaining an increasing foothold in our area,” pointed out CUPE union representative Charlaine Sirois.