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ILWU Canada plans to strike British Columbia ports on Saturday
West Coast dockworkers in Canada plan to strike on Saturday. They said they have been “left with no choice.” There is no definite date for the strike. However, it would include Vancouver. The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest port. It is also a major gateway for goods landing in the US Midwest.
British Columbia ports have not reported any operational slowdowns. Cargo is moving promptly. The head of one of Canada’s largest ocean forwarders said a strike would heap further economic pain on all port stakeholders who are already dealing with slower trade.
Both groups said that the union sent formal notice that its members will walk off the job as of 8am West Coast time on July 1st.
ILWU Canada said it filed the 72-hour strike notice because the BCMEA has “refused to negotiate on the main issue, and we feel we are left with no choice but to take the next step in the process.” The union also said its main goals are higher wages, protections for workers against automation, and restricting the use of nonunion labor at port-related operations.
Good faith offers and cautious optimism
Workers will serve grain vessels during a strike. However, the BCMEA said it is still negotiating with ILWU Canada about serving passenger ships.
The employers’ group said its members have put forth multiple offers “in good faith, with the objective of making progress and achieving a fair deal at the table.” It said it is willing to submit to binding arbitration if ongoing talks fail to reach a deal.
The impact of a strike at Vancouver is unclear at this point. Only five container ships are at berth at the port currently. Two of those ships arrived on Wednesday. It is not clear when the ships are expected to depart.
Marc Bibeau, president and CEO of OEC Group Canada, said he is “cautiously optimistic” that a deal can be struck soon to shorten or avoid a strike. He also said the port is risking losing more cargo now that a tentative deal has been reached on the US West Coast.
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