B.C. port lockout to begin with no deal reached in contract dispute with foremen union
Employer's lockout against over 700 foremen to start at 8 a.m. PT, raising fears of effect on trade
A provincewide lockout of over 700 foremen at British Columbia's ports is set to begin at 8 a.m. PT, raising concerns it may halt trade along Canada’s West Coast.
The B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) stated the lockout aims to ensure "a safe and orderly wind-down of operations" due to "escalating and unpredictable strike action." The BCMEA said this action was “defensive” following a 72-hour strike notice from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514, which is also scheduled to take effect at 8 a.m. PT.
The union criticized the association's decision, calling it "reckless" and suggesting it was an effort to push for federal government intervention.
On Sunday, the BCMEA reiterated that its final offer, submitted to the union’s president last Wednesday, remained open and could prevent "unnecessary strike action" if accepted. However, union president Frank Morena said in a news release that the BCMEA had threatened to remove parts of the existing collective agreement if the union did not accept the proposal.
“Let me be crystal clear to the BCMEA: Our union will not sign any contract which includes concessions that remove existing parts of our collective agreement that our members fought long and hard for over many years,” Morena emphasized.
$800 Million in Daily Trade at Stake
Bridgitte Anderson, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, voiced serious concerns over the potential lockout, noting that West Coast ports handle $800 million in daily trade. “This could disrupt industries, sectors, and the entire Canadian economy,” Anderson said on Sunday.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is urging Ottawa to step in and designate ports as an essential service to keep them fully operational at all times. CFIB’s vice president of national affairs, Jasmin Guenette, warned that the lockout would harm small businesses nationwide, recalling how a 13-day strike in 2023 had already stalled billions in trade.
In a post on X on Sunday, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon noted that federal mediators are prepared to assist both parties. “It is the responsibility of the parties to reach an agreement. Businesses, workers, and farmers are counting on them to get a deal,” he stated.
