The Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU) is pleased to announce that SIU Members with Ocean BC Towing (OBCT), managed by Groupe Ocean, have reached an agreement on a new contract that was unanimously accepted by our hardworking Members with the company in British Columbia. The contract sees significant gains in all areas, raising the bar and setting the new standard for seafarers working on tugboats on Canada’s West Coast.
The contract includes a 20% wage increase in the first 3 years, a 1.5% increase to pension in 2025, transportation reimbursements, a minimum 6 hour call in during scheduled time off, improvements to the medical plan, and more that were all fought for by the negotiating committee. The SIU of Canada wishes to thank those on the negotiating committee for their hard work and participation in these negotiations. A contract of this quality is only achieved with the active participation of our Members with OBCT along with those on the negotiating committee. Your hard work and dedication was vital in securing this new agreement.
The tentative agreement was reached on September 7, 2022. All Members with Ocean BC Towing voted on the tentative agreement on September 10, 2022, concluding in 100% of Members voting in favour of the new contract.
“We take great pride in being able to provide excellent representation to our members working on the West Coast, and this agreement is a great example that a strong, unified Union is extremely important in order to secure industry-leading contracts,” stated Mike Given, Secretary Treasurer of the SIU of Canada. “United we bargain, divided we beg.”
About the SIU of Canada: The Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU) is affiliated with the Seafarers’ International Union of North America serving unlicensed sailors since 1938. The SIU has been representing seafarers working aboard vessels on the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, East Coast, West Coast and Arctic since 1954. SIU Members have acquired the reputation of being amongst the best-trained and most qualified sailors in the world. The SIU represents thousands of qualified seafarers across Canada.
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SOURCE: Seafarers’ International Union of Canada
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