UnionBoilermakers Local 73 wages 2026 (Nova Scotia)
The hourly rates, overtime, shift, vacation and LOA rules of Boilermakers Local 73 (Lodge 73) in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, read from the three agreements built into the Boilermaker Cheque app. An independent guide: the agreement and your hall have the final word.
Construction, NS mainland and PEI
BCA/IBB Local 73 / NSCLRA Field Construction Agreement 2026–2030 (Nova Scotia mainland and Prince Edward Island)
$45.90an hour
Journeyperson, Construction, NS mainland and PEI
From July 5, 2026. Next step $47.69 on July 4, 2027.
| Classification | From July 5, 2026 | From July 4, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Journeypersonbase rate | $45.90 | $47.69 |
| Assistant forepersonJP +$2 | $47.90 | $49.69 |
| ForepersonJP +$6 | $51.90 | $53.69 |
| General forepersonJP +$9 | $54.90 | $56.69 |
| 3rd-year apprentice90% | $41.31 | $42.92 |
| 2nd-year apprentice75% | $34.43 | $35.77 |
| 1st-year apprentice60% | $27.54 | $28.61 |
| Helper75% | $34.43 | $35.77 |
- Overtime
- All overtime is double time (16.01a): past the 8 h day (10 h compressed) Mon–Fri, and every hour on Saturday, Sunday and the twelve recognized holidays (17.02; Heritage Day in NS is Islander Day in PEI).
- Shift premium
- 20% of the rate on every hour worked on shift.
- Vacation and stat holiday pay
- 9% vacation pay and 3% holiday pay on top of wages, taxed with them.
- LOA, subsistence and travel
- NS mainland or PEI: $165 a day.
Construction, Cape Breton
BCA/IBB Local 73 / NSCLRA Field Construction Agreement 2026–2030, Cape Breton wage schedule
$48.11 an hour, journeyperson, from July 5, 2026; $49.96 from July 4, 2027.
| Classification | From July 5, 2026 | From July 4, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Journeypersonbase rate | $48.11 | $49.96 |
| Assistant forepersonJP +$2 | $50.11 | $51.96 |
| ForepersonJP +$6 | $54.11 | $55.96 |
| General forepersonJP +$9 | $57.11 | $58.96 |
| 3rd-year apprentice90% | $43.30 | $44.96 |
| 2nd-year apprentice75% | $36.08 | $37.47 |
| 1st-year apprentice60% | $28.87 | $29.98 |
| Helper75% | $36.08 | $37.47 |
- Overtime
- All overtime is double time: past the 8 h day (10 h compressed) Mon–Fri, and every hour on Saturday, Sunday and the twelve recognized holidays.
- Shift premium
- 20% of the rate on every hour worked on shift.
- Vacation and stat holiday pay
- 9% vacation pay and 3% holiday pay on top of wages, taxed with them.
- LOA, subsistence and travel
- Cape Breton: $165 a day.
Maintenance, Port Hawkesbury paper mill (NMA)
NMA Service Agreement, Port Hawkesbury Paper Mill, Point Tupper, Cape Breton, Jan 1 2026 to Dec 31 2029
$43.30 an hour, journeyperson, from July 5, 2026; $44.96 from July 4, 2027.
| Classification | From July 5, 2026 | From July 4, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyperson90% of Cape Breton | $43.30 | $44.96 |
| Assistant foreperson90% of Cape Breton | $45.10 | $46.76 |
| Foreperson90% of Cape Breton | $48.70 | $50.36 |
| General foreperson90% of Cape Breton | $51.40 | $53.06 |
| 3rd-year apprentice90% of Cape Breton | $38.97 | $40.46 |
| 2nd-year apprentice90% of Cape Breton | $32.47 | $33.72 |
| 1st-year apprentice90% of Cape Breton | $25.98 | $26.98 |
| Helper90% of Cape Breton | $32.47 | $33.72 |
- Overtime
- 5×8 (16.100–16.300): 8 h straight Mon–Fri, the next 4 h at time and a half, double after 12 h. 4×10 (Mon–Thu or Tue–Fri, with notice to the union): 10 h straight, 2 h at time and a half, double after 12 h; the fifth weekday is time and a half up to 12 h, then double.
- Shift premium
- $0.50 an hour on straight-time hours worked on shift.
- Vacation and stat holiday pay
- 9% vacation pay and 3% holiday pay on top of wages, taxed with them.
- LOA, subsistence and travel
- 5×8 shifts, home 100+ road km away: $135 a day; 4×10 shifts, home 100+ road km away: $165 a day.
One 40-hour week, worked out
Week of October 25, 2026Journeyperson, Construction, NS mainland and PEI
Example| Day | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Earnings | |
| Regular40 h × 45.90 | 1,836.00 |
| Vacation pay9% | 165.24 |
| Holiday pay3% | 55.08 |
| Gross pay | 2,056.32 |
| Deductions | |
| Field dues4.25% of gross | −87.39 |
| Helmets to Hardhats40 h | −0.40 |
| CPP5.95% | −118.35 |
| EI1.63% | −33.52 |
| Income taxestimate | −505.71 |
What's missing
Where the app can't follow a rule to the letter yet, its notes say so, and say how to allow for it when you enter your hours. From this page's agreements:
- Maintenance, Port Hawkesbury paper mill (NMA). The app has one shift premium per agreement and uses the 2nd shift's $0.50, so a 3rd shift shows $0.25 an hour too little ($2.00 a shift). On a 1- or 2-day shutdown leave Night shift unticked.
Enter your own hours in the Boilermaker Cheque app: it applies these rates, the overtime and holiday rules, dues and tax, and keeps a year of cheques. Free for a month.
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Questions
What does a Local 73 journeyperson make in 2026?
$45.90 an hour under the BCA/IBB Local 73 / NSCLRA Field Construction Agreement 2026–2030 (Nova Scotia mainland and Prince Edward Island), from July 5, 2026. The other agreements on this page: Construction, Cape Breton $48.11 and Maintenance, Port Hawkesbury paper mill (NMA) $43.30.
When is the next Local 73 raise?
The next step in the Construction, NS mainland and PEI schedule is $47.69 an hour on July 4, 2027.
What do Local 73 apprentices make?
3rd-year apprentice $41.31 (90%), 2nd-year apprentice $34.43 (75%) and 1st-year apprentice $27.54 (60%) an hour from July 5, 2026.
How much is the Local 73 LOA?
NS mainland or PEI: $165 a day.
How is Local 73 overtime paid?
All overtime is double time (16.01a): past the 8 h day (10 h compressed) Mon–Fri, and every hour on Saturday, Sunday and the twelve recognized holidays (17.02; Heritage Day in NS is Islander Day in PEI).
Sources
The agreements and schedules these numbers were read from. Built October 15, 2026 from the Boilermaker Cheque app, version 2.0.2.
Independent. Not affiliated with any union. Check your agreement.