Shipbuilding company and union in Richmond prevent strike

More than 300 workers at a Richmond-based ship manufacturer will not go on strike after reaching an agreement with their employer.

CLAC Local 501, the union representing approximately 320 employees of Dometic Marina Canada Inc., announced on July 11 that the negotiation process for a new contract following arbitration had been completed.

Dometic Marine, located at 3831 No. 6 Rd., designs, engineers and manufactures components for the recreational boating industry.

The new three-year contract provides for wage increases totaling 9 percent and includes improved provisions for shift changes and tenders, CLAC Local 501 said in a press release.

The union had issued a 72-hour strike notice in June following a strike vote in early May. The employer responded with a 72-hour lockout order.

According to the union, negotiations lasted nearly a year and included more than a dozen meetings and two mediation sessions at the BC Labour Relations Board.

A work stoppage was finally averted when the parties agreed on binding arbitration. A decision was made at the end of June.

“This is the most difficult round of negotiations I have ever participated in,” said Don Mundy, longtime CLAC representative.

“We worked hard for our membership. Given the high inflation of recent years, members wanted big pay increases. Unfortunately, the company experienced a decline in sales and was in a difficult financial situation.”

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