Longshore foremen union in B.C. now in position to strike after rejection of “final offer” from employer

Last week, B.C.’s longshore foremen rejected the “final offer” from the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA), with 99% of the members of ILWU Local 514 agreeing that the proposal did not adequately address their concerns. The union is now in a legal strike position.

At issue is the employer’s unilateral introduction of automation in the loading and unloading of cargo containers at Rail Intermodal Yard at the Port of Vancouver. Local 514 President Frank Morena said that while BCMEA’s constituent employer, Dubai Ports World, negotiated a manning agreement with ILWU Local 500, they refused to do so with Local 514.

Negotiations between the union and the BCMEA have been ongoing for over a year, culminating in a meditation effort that has failed to produce an agreement. Hearings are scheduled in early July for the Canada Industrial Relations Board to review the parties’ grievances.

We will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds. If you have questions about how a work stoppage might affect your operations, please contact us at sales@canangroup.ca.