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VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s ports could once more be disrupted by a labour dispute, as employers say they’ve obtained 72-hour strike discover from the union representing foremen.
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The BC Maritime Employers Affiliation mentioned in a press release on Thursday that it’s “deeply dissatisfied” after the Worldwide Longshore and Warehouse Union Native 514 rejected its “last supply” introduced on Wednesday.
“The BCMEA has superior proposals in good religion to achieve a balanced settlement that’s useful for the 730 hardworking forepersons and for his or her households, whereas additionally guaranteeing West Coast ports stay dependable, aggressive, and reasonably priced for all Canadians,” the assertion mentioned.
“The BCMEA and its members can be contemplating subsequent steps,” the assertion concluded.
The union has not issued a response to questions in regards to the strike discover or future negotiations.
The 2 sides had been negotiating with the assistance of a federal mediator over three days this week to keep away from the newest work stoppage, which might have an effect on all ports in B.C.
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Employers mentioned that if the union takes strike motion, it might start at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 4.
The strike could be the newest in a variety of labour disruptions on the Port of Vancouver, the biggest port in Canada.
In September, staff arrange pickets at six Metro Vancouver grain terminals for a number of days earlier than a tentative deal was reached.
A month earlier than that, port operations have been disrupted by work stoppages at each main Canadian railways.
A 13-day port staff strike final yr froze billions in commerce on the docks.
The foremen’s union mentioned in September that members voted 96 per cent in favour of strike motion, if needed.
The dispute has been centred round one employer, DP World, and its manpower necessities because it pertains to automation.
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The union has mentioned it had “little interest in an industry-wide dispute” as a result of it wished to barter with DP World straight, however the Canada Industrial Relations Board mentioned the union can’t cut price with one employer alone.
The union mentioned that ruling prompted members to take an industry-wide vote on a strike mandate.
As the 2 sides entered negotiations this week, native 514 president Frank Morena mentioned “the clock is ticking,” referring to the union’s strike mandate that expires on Nov. 2.
“ILWU Native 514 needs to see a brand new contract, not a strike or lockout, and has executed the whole lot potential to barter on the desk _ not by the media, as BCMEA has tried to do,” Morena mentioned earlier than talks restarted on Tuesday.
Earlier on Thursday, the employers mentioned they believed their newest supply would “conclude negotiations in a way that serves the perfect curiosity” of all events concerned.
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Negotiations started final yr after the final contract expired in March 2023.
On Oct. 23, the Canada Industrial Relations Board dominated on complaints from either side alleging negotiating in unhealthy religion, dismissing the union’s declare, whereas partly agreeing with the employers’ criticism.
The union has mentioned it “respectfully disagrees” with the ruling and would ask a courtroom to overturn that a part of the choice.
The employers affiliation mentioned Thursday that the newest job motion aggravates the results of earlier work stoppages and causes important hurt to the Canadian financial system.
“This escalation follows months of labour instability throughout rail, air, grain and port sectors and compounds Canada’s rising repute as an unreliable buying and selling associate,” the employers’ assertion mentioned. “This stage of uncertainty and chaos is untenable for the waterfront {industry} and Canada’s provide chain.”
In a written assertion, Larger Vancouver Board of Commerce vice-president David van Hemmen mentioned his group is “calling for rapid motion by the federal authorities to intervene.”
“We’re extraordinarily involved that this strike may cascade shortly to shutting down your complete West Coast port system,” van Hemmen mentioned.
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