The union representing foremen at British Columbia ports has issued┬а72 hours strike notice, according to the association representing its employers. ┬а
The B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) said┬аThursday that if the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 takes strike action, it would begin on Monday at 8 a.m. PT.
┬аThe BCMEA says the escalation came after it presented the union a┬аfinal offer on Wednesday┬аthat it says will provide┬аILWU Local 514 members with significant gains in wages and┬аbenefits, as well as a signing bonus.┬а
“The final offer provides a fair agreement without requiring concessions from ILWU Local 514 and covers all matters remaining in dispute,” the association said.
CBC News has reached out to ILWU Local 514 for comment.
The two sides had been negotiating with the help of a federal mediator for the last three days in a bid to avoid a work stoppage that would affect all ports in B.C.
Negotiations began last year after the last contract expired in March 2023
The union, which represents about 700 foremen at the ports, said in September that members voted 96 per cent in favour of authorizing strike action if necessary.
The dispute has been centred around one employer, DP World, and its manpower requirements as it relates to automation.
The union has said it had “no interest in an industry-wide dispute” because it wanted to negotiate with DP World directly, but the Canada Industrial Relations Board said the union can’t bargain with one employer alone.
The union said that the ruling prompted members to take an industry-wide vote on a strike mandate.┬а
The Canada Industrial Relations Board also ruled earlier this month on complaints from both sides alleging negotiating in bad faith, dismissing the union’s claim while partly agreeing with the employers’ complaint.┬а
Vancouver’s port тАФ the largest in Canada тАФ has seen a number of recent disruptions, including in September when workers set up pickets at six Metro Vancouver grain terminals.
A month before that, port operations were disrupted by work stoppages at both major Canadian railways.
A 13-day port workers strike last year froze billions in trade at the docks.
Meanwhile, dockworkers at the Port of Montreal walked off the job┬аThursday morning,┬аforcing the indefinite shutdown of two container terminals at the country’s second-biggest port. The walkout follows a three-day strike at the same two container terminals earlier this month over scheduling.
