July 12, 1996 The following is being distributed at the request of Marine Atlantic: Tentative agreement reached with shipboard workers Marine Atlantic and the Canadian Auto Workers reached a tentative settlement late yesterday on a new collective agreement. The union represents approximately 1,500 shipboard workers, who crew the Crown corporation's 11 vessels operating throughout Atlantic Canada. The three year contract must be ratified by the union membership, a process expected to take approximately one month. The agreement would be retroactive to January 1, 1995. "The ratification of previous tentative deals has been influenced by delay in reaching a final settlement for employees affected by the PEI fixed link project," says company chief negotiator Nelson Price. "We were successful in resolving that matter last week and are now optimistic that the new collective agreement will be accepted." Employees in the bargaining unit will receive details of the settlement from union officers in the near future. Contact: Ted Bartlett, Director of Public Relations, (506) 851-3611.
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