Toronto, June 7, 2023
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada, which represents workers who load and unload cargo at port terminals in Vancouver, Prince Rupert, and other B.C. ports, has authorized a strike vote. On June 5th, ILWU Canada’s Negotiating Committee authorized the ILWU Longshore Locals to conduct a strike vote in their negotiations with the B.C. Maritime Employers Association. The votes will be held on June 9th and 10th. A potential strike by more than 7,000 terminal cargo movers in B.C.’s ports could have dire consequences, not only for the Canadian economy, but globally as well.
In B.C., the collective agreement between cargo loading workers and the Employers Association expired on March 30th, and they have been negotiating a new contract since February. The two sides are in a cooling-off period until June 21st, after the union filed a notice of dispute in March, citing a lack of progress in talks that required federally mandated conciliation. Canadian law prevents either side from exercising their right to strike for 21 days after the end of conciliation on May 30th, and both sides have agreed not to file a 72-hour strike or lockout notice before June 21st, leaving the earliest possible strike date to be June 24th.
This update is taken from the
For more information, please call David Lychek, Director – Ocean & Air Services at (905) 882-4880, ext. 1207.
