Toronto, July 31, 2023
A late-night breakthrough could herald an end to British Columbia’s long-running port dispute, with the longshore workers’ union and the employers’ association, announcing a new tentative agreement. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada and the B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) say that the new tentative deal was reached with the assistance of the Canada Industrial Relations Board. Details of the deal have not been released, but both sides say in a joint statement issued on Sunday night that they are recommending their members to ratify it.
The dispute, which saw workers walk off the job at more than 30 port terminals and other sites for 13 days at the beginning of July, entered a new phase late Friday night, when members of the union rejected a previous potential agreement with employers. The Canada Industrial Relations Board was tasked with reviewing and potentially ending the British Columbia port labour dispute as of Saturday, after the second rejection of a tentative labour deal sparked mounting calls for back-to-work legislation.
For more information, please call David Lychek, Director – Ocean & Air Services at (905) 882-4880, ext. 1207.
