B.C. ports shuttered as lockout takes hold in latest labour dispute

One of Canada’s key trade routes has been disrupted as employers at most ports in British Columbia have locked out approximately 700 unionized foremen, escalating a labor dispute.

The B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) announced it had imposed the lockout in response to strike actions initiated by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514. The union’s action began with an overtime ban, which BCMEA interpreted as a trigger for a defensive lockout.

Union president Frank Morena criticized the employers’ response as excessive, noting that the union’s negotiators are prepared to resume discussions at any time.

This latest work stoppage has sparked concern from Canadian political and business leaders, especially after previous disruptions from railway strikes earlier in the year and a 13-day strike in a separate port labor dispute last year.

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has reactivated its Port Shutdown Calculator, a tool initially launched last year to show the economic toll of these labor disputes. Board president Bridgitte Anderson highlighted that the current shutdown could affect $800 million in goods daily, with each hour of inactivity adding pressure to inflation.

“This shutdown is the latest in a series of damaging labor disputes that have harmed Canada’s economy and international reputation,” Anderson stated. “We hope the Port Shutdown Calculator will underscore the severe and growing impact of this dispute.”

The union members and the BCMEA have been without a contract since March 2023.