B.C. port strike: Feds hint at action after union rejects tentative deal

A day after the union representing port staff in B.C. rejected a tentative deal that ended job motion final week, the federal labour minister is hinting at motion to get items shifting once more.

In a press release Tuesday evening, Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra stated the federal government and Canadians “have been patient,” including, “We have respected the collective bargaining process. But we need our ports operating.”

“Today, we received formal notice from the BCMEA (BC Maritime Employers Association) that their membership had accepted this deal in full. However, we were also informed that, despite initially agreeing to recommend the Terms of Settlement, the ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) Canada’s leadership had decided not to recommend ratification of the terms to their members,” the assertion issued by O’Regan.

“Workers and employers across Canada cannot face further disruption on the constructive and substantive collective bargaining process. It represented a fair and balanced deal. It was informed by weeks of collective bargaining and drafted by third-party mediators in the interest of both the union and the employer.”

We have been affected person.
Canadians have been affected person.
Every effort has been made.
But this can not go on.

Statement from Minister Alghabra and me: pic.twitter.com/mVdbyLjEKA

— Seamus O'Regan Jr (@SeamusORegan) July 19, 2023

Unionized staff resumed picket strains at B.C.’s ports Tuesday afternoon. In a launch, the BCMEA claims the ILWU’s management “rejected the tentative agreement before it was even taken to a vote of the full union membership.”

In its personal assertion, the ILWU says its caucus “does not believe the recommendations had the ability to protect our jobs now or into the future.”

Fiona McQuarrie, a labour knowledgeable at Simon Fraser University, says it’s uncommon for unions to vote towards phrases advised by a mediator.

“The negotiating team is fairly aware of the issues that are important to the membership and tries to reach a tentative agreement that will represent what the membership wants,” she defined.

McQuarrie says there’s little question back-to-work laws is feasible.

“That’s a bit more forceful. It does acknowledge that this strike is having a very large economic impact, just because of the the sheer volume of goods and services that passes through the Port of Vancouver,” she added.

Related articles: 

• B.C. port staff again on strike after tentative deal rejected

• Tentative deal reached to finish weeks-long B.C. port strike

• B.C. port strike has disrupted almost $9B in commerce: business, trade teams

The tentative deal struck final week got here after O’Regan appointed mediators to carry the matter to a decision.

Strike motion first started on Canada Day, inflicting widespread disruptions to delivery and transportation for almost two weeks.

About 7,400 port staff have been concerned at over 30 port terminals and different websites throughout B.C., citing points similar to pay and provisions associated to upkeep work, contracting out, and automation.

The employer says a lot of these points are addressed within the proposed deal.

Initially, the BCMEA had stated the tentative settlement reached was for a four-year deal “that recognizes the skills and efforts of B.C.’s waterfront workforce.”

The resumption of the strike has many stakeholders disillusioned, with some organizations expressing nice concern.

“We are dismayed and disappointed that the mediated deal was rejected by the ILWU, and job action is recommencing at Canada’s west coast ports. In the first 13 days of job action, $9.9 billion in traded goods were affected, causing significant economic harm,” Greater Vancouver Board of Trade President and CEO Bridgitte Anderson stated.

-With information from Monika Gul and Emily Marsten

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