John Pesa
Vancouver Shipyards – On February 14th Seaspan signed an umbrella agreement with the Federal Government for the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) now renamed the Federal Fleet Renewal Program (FFR). The non-combat portion of the FFR program is an $8 billion investment from Canada to build fisheries vessels, coast guard vessels and non-combat vessels for the Canadian Navy. The signed umbrella agreement gives Seaspan the opportunity to invest in infrastructure and human resources needed to facilitate the planning stages for the FFR program. Please visit http://www.seaspan.com/careers/job-opportunities.php for a list of current available management positions.
Allied Shipbuilders – Negotiations commenced on February 15th for a renewal of the collective agreement. The parties have February 24th scheduled to resume collective bargaining. The current agreement expires February 29th, 2012.
Vancouver School Board – IBEW Local 213 has completed trade level negotiations with the VSB. Once all affiliates of the VSB Construction and Maintenance Unions complete their trade level bargaining a meeting will take place with all maintenance employees to discuss the proposed settlement and then a ratification vote will take place. The proposed two year extension to the current collective agreement was negotiated under the Public Sector two year net zero wage mandate, and if ratified the new agreement will be up for renewal June 30th, 2012. The Union is hopeful for the next round of bargaining to take place under more favorable conditions, and will be seeking proposals for the next round or bargaining as early as the spring of 2012.
