The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service of Canada has this week assisted in the resolution of a dispute between Algomas Tankers Limited and the CMSG, or Canadian Merchant Service Guild.  The Labor Minister for the nation, the Honorable Lisa Raitt, congratulated the two groups for succeeding in their goal of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement that would determine pay grades and working conditions for members of the guild working for Algomas.

Minister Raitt praised the willingness of the two sides to work in cooperation to reach agreement with the help of federal mediation attorneys skilled in both employment mediation and contract mediation.  "I am very pleased that Algoma Tankers Limited and the Canadian Merchant Service Guild have reached a negotiated agreement without interruption to services," commented Minister Raitt, adding that, "strong labor-management relations benefit our country's economic prosperity and the economic security of Canadians."

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Worked to Benefit Small Group

The collective bargaining agreement will cover workers who serve as marine engineers for Algomas.  In all, there are 23 such employees.  In most negotiations, the number of workers involved is far greater, but the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service are also willing to help negotiations when smaller numbers of workers are involved.  The previous contract had expired at the end of the past July.