Longshoremen’s Protective Union expresses its disbelief after learning that its employer, the Shipping Association St. John’s has applied for “basic service” for the job they do. The move now delays the union’s legal strike position. The union members, who work at Harvey’s and Oceanex, are seeking equal pay for the layers in Halifax and Montreal. LSPU (ILA) Local 1953 President Chris Gosse says the request was made at the end of a 21-day relaxation period and the union could not notify the strike until the Canadian Industrial Relations Board had decided on the request. Gosse believes this is tantamount to interfering with their right to strike. They ordered a 100 percent strike in March. He believes that the application uses the Labor Code to intervene in “free collective bargaining”.
