Workers to rally on day 6 of B.C. port strike, employer seeks binding arbitration
VANCOUVER –
Striking port staff will rally close to the Vancouver waterfront to mark their sixth day on the picket line as they search a brand new contract with the BC Maritime Employers Association.
About 7,400 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have been off the job since Canada Day to again calls for for improved wages and provisions in opposition to contracting out and automation.
The mid-morning demonstration is organized by the union and billed as a solidarity rally, with members reminded that there’s pleasure, power and dedication in numbers.
It comes because the employers affiliation, which represents administration at greater than 30 B.C. ports has stated binding arbitration might rapidly finish the strike.
Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan was as a substitute urging the 2 sides to make use of obtainable mediators and resume negotiations.
O’Regan met along with his B.C. counterpart, Labour Minister Harry Bains, on Wednesday to debate the strike, which has idled Canada’s busiest port, in Vancouver, in addition to the third busiest port, in Prince Rupert.
CP Rail, now often called CPKC Ltd., issued non permanent embargoes on rail site visitors to the Port of Vancouver this week, whereas officers in Alberta and Saskatchewan have joined with business organizations in B.C. and throughout Canada calling for federal laws to finish the job motion.
“Negotiations are still paused, however, the BCMEA remains ready to re-engage at a moment’s notice, assuming ILWU Canada is prepared to present a reasonable proposal,” the affiliation stated in an e mail Wednesday.
The strike has probably disrupted $3.7 billion of cargo, it stated.
“Automotive parts, refrigerated food, fertilizer, critical minerals and goods ΓǪ are not reaching Canadians or our trading partners abroad,” stated the affiliation.
Data present the Port of Vancouver handles roughly 142 million tonnes of cargo yearly whereas almost 25 million tonnes of products moved by Prince Rupert in 2022.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed July 6, 2023.
