Alberta premier urges Trudeau to legislate B.C. port workers back to work | 24CA News
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to mandate British Columbia’s port employees to return to work.
“Canadians have had enough. The federal government must reconvene parliament and legislate these workers return to work,” Smith mentioned in an emailed assertion Tuesday.
“Albertans and Canadians cannot afford to have hundred of millions of dollars daily in products delayed at these ports, and the longer this strike continues, the more Canada’s credibility as a reliable trading partner is damaged.”
The employees returned to the picket line Tuesday afternoon after the supply introduced to each the union and employer final Thursday was rejected.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and the B.C. Maritime Employers Association first introduced {that a} tentative settlement was reached final week, however the employer mentioned the union — representing 1000’s of port employees — has backed out.
“We regret to advise that ILWU Canada (ILWU) has communicated that ILWU’s internal caucus leadership rejected the tentative agreement, before it was even taken to a vote of the full union membership,” the BCMEA mentioned in a Tuesday assertion.
“This fair and comprehensive package could not satisfy some of ILWU internal caucus leadership, and in rejecting this tentative agreement, ILWU Leadership is choosing to further harm Canada’s economy, international reputation and most importantly, to Canadians, their livelihoods and all those that rely on a stable supply chain.”
The employers affiliation mentioned the proposed four-year collective settlement settlement package deal that was rejected included “considerable hikes in wages and benefits” that exceeded the approximate 10 per cent enhance over the previous three years.
The affiliation added that the proposed will increase have been typically above the established norm of current personal and public union settlements throughout the province and the nation.
However, the ILWU mentioned its Canada Longshore Caucus voted down the phrases of the settlement as a result of it didn’t consider the suggestions have been enough to guard jobs now and sooner or later.
“Our position since day one has been to protect our jurisdiction and this position has not changed,” the union mentioned.
“With the record profits that the BCMEA’s member companies have earned over the last few years the employers have not addressed the cost of living issues that our workers have faced over the last couple of years as all workers have.”
The strike, which has included about 7,400 employees, began on July 1 and lasted 13 days earlier than the supply was introduced.
Shipments have been halted out and in of about 30 ports in B.C., together with Canada’s largest, the Port of Vancouver.
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade estimated greater than $9.3 billion of commerce has been disrupted because the strike started.
– with information from Amy Judd, Global News
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
