Update for Unifor-MWF Local 1 Members at Marine Fabricators

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Dear members,

Last week, Unifor representatives met with executives at Irving Shipbuilding to discuss the company’s recently-announced plan to outsource work currently done by Unifor members at the Marine Fabricators facility in Dartmouth.

We clearly stated our opposition to their decision to outsource this work. The spirit and intent of the Canadian Shipbuilding Strategy, created by the Harper Conservative government and continued and expanded by the Trudeau Liberal government, was both to rebuild Canada’s aging Naval fleet and to end the boom-bust cycle in Canada’s shipbuilding industry by supporting good jobs here at home. Outsourcing skilled trades work overseas is in direct opposition to this.

The Union learned the commercial contract for pre-assembled pipes has been signed by Irving Shipbuilding and will be in full effect by March 2020. Materials will be shipped from South Korea.

Considerable public support was needed in order to prove the Canadian Shipbuilding Strategy had merit. The original Ships Start Here campaign succeeded in bringing the largest portion of the Naval fleet fabrication contract to the Irving Shipyard, promising thousands of jobs and increased economic value to Nova Scotia. Unifor’s Ships Stay Here campaign fought to keep work in Halifax and maintain employment for the hundreds of skilled tradespeople whose jobs were at risk due to a years-long gap between vessel projects. Nova Scotians supported our campaign because they know the value of good, family-supporting jobs.

We are disappointed in Irving Shipbuilding’s decision to outsource good jobs and will continue to work to protect the work being done by Halifax’s world-class shipbuilders.

Additional meetings with Irving Shipbuilding management are being planned. Unifor will continue to pursue a resolution on behalf of our members.

In solidarity,

Ryan Lapointe, President Unifor-MWF Local 1
Adam Hersey, Business Agent Unifor-MWF Local 1
Chad Johnston, Unifor National Representative

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