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October 27, 2017
After 313 days of a lockout of Unifor members in Gander, NL, an experienced independent mediator has been appointed by the Newfoundland government to attempt to resolve the dispute at D-J Composites.
“We can only hope that Roil will be able to bring his considerable skill to reach a fair collective agreement in what has been a very long and very difficult ten months for these 32 aerospace workers,” said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director.
John Roil, is a lawyer with extensive mediation experience and has served on several independent inquiries including the 2011 Vale inquiry in to the lengthy labour dispute in Voisey’s Bay.
In September Payne and other Unifor officials met with the Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour to request the government use its authority under s. 115(1) of the Labour Relations Act to appoint a mediator to try and resolve the dispute or report back on what the obstacles are to a resolution of the ongoing labour dispute
The aerospace workers from local 587 were locked out by their American-based employer on December 19, 2016. In May 2017, the Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Board found D-J Composites guilty of bad faith bargaining.The provincial labour department has provided conciliation services since August.
“This is an excellent opportunity to resolve outstanding issues. I urge the parties to make a determined effort to work with Mr. Roil to bring an end to the dispute,” said Honourable Al Hawkins Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
Unifor’s bargaining committee is looking forward to working with Roil to get workers back on the job with a fair collective agreement.
