VANCOUVER – The BC Maritime Employers Association says it has rescinded an industry-wide lockout notice after the Canada Industrial Relations Board found a looming strike by a union representing ship and dock foremen contravenes the Canada Labour Code.
(ILWU) had called a strike
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Ship & Dock Foremen, Local 514, had called a strike from 8 July at DP World (Canada) from around 4:30pm (Pacific Time) following a vote of members.The British Colombia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) responded saying if the strike went ahead it would call an industry wide lockout at ports on Canada’s west coast. “In targeting DP World (Canada) Inc., ILWU Local 514 is unfairly isolating a single terminal operator to create uncertainty and chaos, while many industry-wide issues remain unresolved in our shared collective bargaining process,” BCMEA.
BCMEA said in a news release
It is notewothy the BCMEA said in a news release on Saturday that it had asked the CIRB to divert the upcoming strike against DP World Canada.
The association released another statement on Sunday saying the board has directed the union to rescind its July 5 strike notice.
It says the board’s decision finds ILWU Local 514 failed to bargain in good faith when it issued a strike notice based on a vote conducted among employees of only one member employer of the BCMEA.
B.C.’s ports
The association says it is “disappointed that these steps needed to be taken to ensure the stability of Canada’s West Coast ports, but is pleased with the outcome of the board’s decision.”
It adds that regular cargo and passenger operations at B.C.’s ports will continue uninterrupted.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union said in a statement last month that 99 per cent of the nearly 600 longshore foremen who voted were against a “final offer” from the employers association.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2024.
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