HALIFAX -- Workers at the Halifax shipyard have voted in favour of a new collective agreement.
The members of the Canadian Auto Workers-Marine Workers Federation voted 69 per cent in favour of the six-year deal with Irving Shipbuilding on Wednesday.
A company news release says the deal covers about 1,000 workers at the shipyard.
Ross Langley, vice chairman of the company, says the company is pleased with the agreement because it will help the yard complete its current projects and prepare for the naval projects to come.
The yard is currently building patrol vessels for the Coast Guard, and carrying out mid-life refits of Halifax-class frigates.
Last year Ottawa announced the Irving shipyard had won the right to negotiate contracts for $25 billion worth of combat vessels.
The Irving news release says that current Defence Department estimates envision the first vessels, the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships, entering into production stage in 2015 at the shipyard.
