Thunder Bay port official happy with grain handlers' deal

Thunder Bay grain handlers have ratified a new collective agreement, which comes as a relief to one Thunder Bay port official.

The contract covers about 230workers at four Thunder Bay grain terminals.

Tim Heney, CEO of the Thunder Bay Port Authority, said the port has been on track to have its busiest shipping season in 17 years.

We're very happy to see that settlement This is the Seaway's chance to show Western Canada we can still perform and we still have that capacity. It's very important that we carry through with that for the rest of the year, he said.

Members of the Steelworkers Union voted to accept the three-year contract on Tuesday.

Union spokesperson Herb Daniher said the deal includes a pay increase of about two per cent each year.

He noted three companies operating Lakehead grain terminals had tried to get concessions.

That was the critical issue [and] why we had the impasseon Friday, Daniher said.

We were able to convince the employers to withdraw their demands for concessions. By looking at other alternatives, and basically they revised their offer.

About 230 unionized grain handlers work at four sites in Thunder Bay, for three differentcompanies: Viterra, Richardson Ltd. and Superior Elevator.