Union launches campaign to keep work in Halifax

Shipbuilders at Halifax’s Irving Shipyard have launched a campaign to keep their work in Nova Scotia, as concerns mount over the possibility of repair work on Halifax-class navy ships being transferred to Davie Shipbuilding in Quebec.

Members of Unifor Marine Workers Federation Local 1, which represents about 1,000 Irving workers, say the federal government has recently made comments suggesting it plans to move some work to the Quebec shipyard, and they’re uneasy about potential job losses.

“We had received information that the government was taking that work that we do now and sending it out of our province,” said Chad Johnson, a national representative for Unifor.

“The concern is that it greatly impacts the employment levels from the Halifax shipyard.”

Johnson said if there was no Halifax-class work, the shipyard could be in danger of losing about 300 jobs.

Sean Lewis, Irving Shipbuilding’s communications director, said in an email that Halifax has performed this work for almost 10 years “with a cost and schedule reputation to be proud of.

“Halifax Shipyard and our shipbuilders have the experience, proven track record, and capacity to continue maintaining the Halifax-class frigates in their homeport,” said Lewis.

“We are hopeful that the Government of Canada will continue the work at Halifax Shipyard.”

Union officials have launched a petition under their “Ships Stay Here” campaign, asking people to share their support for workers at the Halifax Shipyard.

The union has also included a message that will be emailed to a number of politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“Moving a portion of the Halifax-class warship repair work away from its steady home since the early 1990’s is a move based purely in politics and not in the realities on the ground,” the letter reads.

But Frederik Boisvert, vice president of public affairs for Davie Shipbuilding, said in an email that the Quebec shipyard is one of the only remaining ones to have experience with Halifaxclass frigates.

He said workers there have an “intricate knowledge” of what goes into building and repairing them.