🚀 go-pugleaf

I got this article from ALLNovaScotia.com business newsletter.  I knew the
port workers made a lot of money but i was shocked at how much they actually
did make.  Imagine making over a 100 grand for driving a container forklift.
And then they have the gall to ask for a "birthday bonus".  Now i'm not
putting them down or anything,...as i'm sure they work hard for their money,
but when i hear things like "birthday bonus", all i  hear is; "We are greedy
people".  And it also looks like they're damn good negotiators too since
they were able to get themselves a overtime time deal that i think the
Senate and MPs in Ottawa would be envious of.  Imagine, making up to 12
times your hourly rate.  12 times $25 is $300 per hour.  Wow.  Interesting
article though.


Shipping lines are struggling in the wake of 9-11, container volumes through
Halifax are
down and a major Halterm customer has said it might funnel its traffic
through New York.  Such is the atmosphere as 450 unionized employees on the
Halifax waterfront seek a new collective agreement through ILA locals 269
(stevedores), 1341 (checkers), and 1825 (gearmen).   Gerry Murphy, president
of 269, and his cohorts are keeping a tight lid on talks, having refused on
several occasions to discuss the outstanding issues with Allnovascotia.com.

The unions are seeking an immediate increase of 3.5%, but it is not known
what they
want over the whole length of the next ontract. The last one was for three
years, expiring December 31.  A union bid for a birthday bonus has been
given thumbs down by the Halifax Employers  Association.
The locals had proposed the bonus would be equivalent to the basic port
worker's pay rate  of $25.23 per hour (net of other benefits) for eight
hours: $201.84.
But whether it would go to all workers, or just those working on their
birthdays, isn't clear. Up to 12x overtime Rob Fisher, the executive
director of the HEA
declined to address the birthday issue nor any other details of offers on
the table.
A "fair percentage" of port workers earn in excess of $100,000, confirms
Fisher. But he
said a report one worker took home nearly $200,000 last year is
"inaccurate".
Employees can be paid up to 12 times the basic rate, but Fisher says
overtime rates
usually range from four to six times the basic rate.