Members of the foreman union ILWU Local 514 started a strike at Canadian West Coast ports at 8am (PT) on 4 November, in response employers, represented by the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) said they would start a lockout at 4:30pm on 4 November, “to facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations”.

It has been said that ILWU Local 514's strike action has already begun to impact to B.C.'s waterfront operations and strike activity can easily escalate, including a complete withdrawal of labour without notice.

Despite the BCMEA and ILWU Local 514 having been engaged in talks for nearly two years over negotiating a new collective agreement which expired in March 2023, a new deal has failed to be reached.

 In a statement last week ILWU Local 514 President Frank Morena said, “Our members have  repeatedly tried since our contract expired on March 31, 2023 to bargain a new contract without any job action but the BCMEA employers have refused to move and now want to create a crisis instead of negotiating.”

A full-scale lockout by employers was seen as a way of getting the Federal Government to intervene.

Canada’s Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon posted on social media platform X, “Federal mediators are on site, ready to assist the parties. It is the responsibility of the parties to reach an agreement. Businesses, workers, and farmers are counting on them to get a deal.”

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https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports-logistics/shutdown-of-canada-s-largest-ports-begins

Source: Seatrade Maritime