Information for New Employees

This section is designed to help new employees navigate their roles within the Longshore industry at the Port of Halifax. Here, you’ll find essential information about onboarding, policies, benefits, and resources to ensure a smooth transition into your new position.

Hiring Process & New Employee Information

The hiring of new employees is done in accordance with the Collective Agreement between the Council of ILA Locals for the Port of Halifax and the Halifax Employers Association. There are three general streams of employees we hire: longshore workers represented by ILA Local 269, the Halifax Longshoremen’s Association, checkers, represented by the IlA Local 1341, Halifax Freight and Steamship Checkers, and red seal maintenance trades, represented by ILA Local 1825, Halifax Gear Repair and Maintenance Men.

Except for Maintenance workers, who are hired directly by our employer members, all new applicants are referred to the HEA by the respective ILA Local for consideration. That is the beginning of the process. Then applicants then are put through a rigorous screening and testing process by the HEA. If they successfully pass that process they must then complete several weeks of training and probation before becoming a member of the longshore Cardboard or Checker preferred list. There is no guarantee of Union membership but when new members are taken in they must come off one of these lists.

On this page you will find policies and rules and new hires should become very familiar with.