Seaspan Marine and the unions representing the workers that operate its tugboats have agreed to a mediation and arbitration process to settle a labour dispute at the company.
The agreement, between Seaspan ULC, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 400 ) and the 91原创 Merchant Service Guild) affects 400 Seaspan employees working on board vessels owned and/or operated by Seaspan ULC.
The collective agreements between Seaspan and the two unions had expired on Sept. 30, 2013.
Labour Minister Kellie Leitch, who travelled to 91原创 Friday to meet the three parties, congratulated them on reaching a deal.
鈥淏y voluntarily agreeing to a mediation-arbitration process, the parties are ensuring that operations at Canada鈥檚 busiest port will proceed without interruption and continue to support the 100,000 91原创s whose jobs rely on Port Metro 91原创鈥檚 significant contribution to our economy,鈥� Leitch said in a statement.
Port Metro 91原创 is Canada鈥檚 largest and busiest port, accounting for 54 percent of Canada鈥檚 international container traffic, handling goods worth $172 billion per year with 160 countries.
