THE last sticking point in local New York longshore contract talks that threatened US east coast waterfront labour peace appear to be settled as the proposed contract was sent to union membership for a ratification vote on April 9.
Union negotiators for the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and employers of the New York Shipping Association (NYSA) in the Port of New York and New Jersey, settled the thorny dispute over working conditions paving the way toward a new six-year master contract.
Said NYSA president Joseph Curto: "The agreement includes a provision for a relief gang system, which is a variation of shift work. Also included is a special window pension benefit that will induce up to 400 industry workers to retire in the next 12 months and a new recruiting, hiring and training plan to replace those workers.
"The agreement will allow us to begin an evolutionary progression of meaningful change that will improve the process for working ships, hiring labour, and paying key staff persons," Mr Curto said.
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service director George Cohen sounded confident that this would be passed, reported London's Containerisation International.
"The parties have successfully concluded lengthy, complex and sometimes contentious negotiations concerning a multitude of economic and job related issues," Mr Cohen said.
"This monumental result, which will be submitted to their respective memberships for ratification, paves the way for six years of stable labour-management relations covering all the Atlantic and Gulf coast ports," he said.
PORTS
15 March 2013 - 21:11
Two sides agree, ILA members to vote on US east coast deal April 9
THE last sticking point in local New York longshore contract talks that threatened US east coast waterfront labour peace appear to be settled.
PORTS
15 March 2013 - 21:11
Two sides agree, ILA members to vote on US east coast deal April 9
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