B.C. port workers reject tentative agreement that ended strike

Unionized port employees in British Columbia have rejected a tentative settlement with their employer, throwing the province’s ports again into turmoil.

In a short assertion Friday night time, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada introduced that its longshore division had “said no to the terms of the settlement.”

“Today we call on our direct employers to come to the table and negotiate something that works for our members and the industry,” the union mentioned.

The union has been with no contract since March 31, when its earlier cope with the BC Maritime Employers Association expired.

Negotiations on a brand new contract started late final 12 months, however have been fraught, in the end culminating in a 13-day strike motion by the union.

That motion ended on July 13, when each side initially accepted a deal put ahead by a federally appointed mediator.

On July 18, nonetheless, ILWU management introduced that it had rejected the mediator’s phrases, and picket traces returned to B.C. ports.

That motion proved to be short-lived, because the Canada Industrial Relations Board dominated the resumption of the strike unlawful, as a result of it lacked a 72-hour discover.

While the union objected to this ruling and promised to enchantment, it ceased picketing and issued a brand new strike discover, earlier than rescinding that discover and promising a membership vote on the deal.

Now, that deal has been rejected by the union’s full membership, leaving the events as soon as once more at an deadlock.

This is a growing story and will likely be up to date Saturday morning.

With information from The Canadian Press