Halifax Dockers Take Wage Freeze

Dockworkers took a first-year wage freeze in a new three-year contract with the Halifax Employers Association at the struggling Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Labor peace for the next three years at Halifax was bought in an agreement signed recently with both sides saying the agreement reflects the hard times in shipping and the world economy. The previous agreement expired December 31, and the new one incorporates a wage freeze for the first year. There will be 3.75 percent pay increases in each of the following two years.

There were improvements in workers’ pensions and health plan contributions. These plans have been based on the tonnage handled at the port. While break-bulk and roll-on, roll-off cargo has held up, container traffic has slumped over recent years and that had meant lower funding of the programs. The resolution of this was not given but Employers Association president Richard Moore told Halifax media that "we were able to address some of their concern."

Moore said the agreement’s goal was to contain costs in the first year, and to hope for better economic times in the second and third years. "There will not be any increased labor costs for our customers," he said.