PRESS RELEASE (issued by the HEA and ILA)

September 10, 2020, Halifax, Nova Scotia - The Halifax Employers Association, acting for and on behalf of its members, Steamship Companies and Agents employing labour, Stevedores and Container Terminal Operators handling vessels in the Port of Halifax, AND The Council of I.L.A. Locals for the Port of Halifax acting for and on behalf of its members, the Halifax Longshoremen’s Association, Local 269, the Halifax Freight & Steamship Checkers Union, Local 1341 and the Halifax Gear Repair and Maintenance Men, Local 1825,

Are pleased to announce that they reached an agreement to extend the current Collective Agreement and the existing Mid-West Cargo rebate agreement for an additional year, expiring on December 31, 2021. The current Collective Agreement was set to expire on December 31, 2020. The contract extension has been ratified by parties and was agreed to in response to the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic to provide labour stability in the longshore industry in the Port of Halifax. Due to the dedication of our workforce, and the cooperation and planning of the HEA and ILA contingency planning committee, The Port of Halifax has continued to maintain normal operations throughout the pandemic thereby, ensuring the flow of essential goods and materials to and from Atlantic Canada and the rest of the country. This extension will ensure this will continue to be the case while we face the challenges that may lie ahead.