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British Columbia’s ports are facing potential disruption once again after the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) confirmed on Thursday that it has received a 72-hour strike notice from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514, which represents foremen. The BCMEA expressed deep disappointment, citing the rejection of its “final offer” presented to the union just a day prior.
In a statement, the BCMEA stressed that it had made “good faith” proposals aimed at achieving a balanced agreement that would benefit both the 730 forepersons and their families while maintaining the competitiveness and reliability of Canada’s West Coast ports. The association hinted at ongoing deliberations, stating, “The BCMEA and its members will be considering next steps.”
Despite the high stakes, ILWU Local 514 has yet to respond to inquiries regarding its strike notice or future negotiations. The potential strike, set to commence at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, follows three days of mediated talks this week aimed at averting further disruption. A strike would impact all ports across British Columbia, adding to an already tumultuous period for Canada’s largest port, the Port of Vancouver.
This latest development continues a series of labour disruptions that have plagued the port in recent months. In September, workers erected picket lines at six Metro Vancouver grain terminals before a tentative deal was reached, while a month earlier, significant work stoppages at Canada’s two major railways disrupted port operations. Notably, a 13-day strike by port workers last year halted billions of dollars in trade, highlighting the broader economic impact of such actions.
Tensions have been particularly focused on one major employer, DP World, and its manpower requirements related to automation. The union has stated that its intent was never to spark an industry-wide dispute, preferring instead to negotiate directly with DP World. However, the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s decision prevented this, ruling that the union could not single out one employer, which led to an industry-wide strike mandate.
Union president Frank Morena highlighted the urgency before the current talks, remarking that “the clock is ticking,” as the strike mandate was set to expire on Nov. 2. Morena asserted that the union’s primary aim was to reach an agreement, not to stage a strike, stating that Local 514 had “done everything possible to negotiate at the table – not through the media, as BCMEA has attempted to do.”
Earlier in the day, the BCMEA had voiced hope that its most recent proposal would “conclude negotiations in a manner that serves the best interest” of all involved. The negotiations have been ongoing since the last contract lapsed in March 2023. The Canada Industrial Relations Board’s ruling on Oct. 23, which dismissed the union’s claims of bad-faith negotiating while partially agreeing with the employers’ complaints, further complicated the situation. The union indicated its disagreement with this ruling and plans to challenge it in court.
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s vice-president, David van Hemmen, echoed the concerns of many industry leaders, calling for immediate federal intervention. “We are extremely concerned that this strike could cascade quickly to shutting down the entire West Coast port system,” van Hemmen warned.
The BCMEA underscored that the new job action would only exacerbate the effects of prior work stoppages, further damaging Canada’s economy and global trade reputation. “This escalation follows months of labour instability across rail, air, grain, and port sectors and compounds Canada’s growing reputation as an unreliable trading partner,” the statement read, describing the situation as “untenable for the waterfront industry and Canada’s supply chain.”
Source:The Canadian Press
