Toronto, June 15, 2023
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, employers of 22,000 dockworkers at US West Coast ports, advised on June 14th that they have reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract, ending 13 months of talks and easing supply chain worries. The agreement, covering workers at ports stretching from California to Washington State, is subject to ratification by both parties. Workers covered by the agreement are based at some of the nation’s busiest seaports, including Los Angeles/Long Beach – the busiest ocean trade gateway in the United States. They have been working without a contract since July 1st and have been seeking a share of pandemic cargo surge profits and retroactive pay.
Coupled with this, the Halifax Employers Association, acting for and on behalf of its members, steamship companies and agents employing labour, stevedores and container terminal operators handling vessels in the Port of Halifax, and the Council of International Longshoremen’s Association Locals for the Port of Halifax have ratified the tentative agreement reached on April 12th for renewal of their collective agreement. The old collective agreement expired on December 31, 2021. The new agreement is for a term of four years and will run until December 31, 2025.
While this is great news for the US West Coast and the Port of Halifax, providing much needed stability at these key ports as peak season shipping approaches, labour negotiations affecting ports on the West Coast of Canada remain. We are watching this situation closely and will provide updates as the situation evolves.
For more information, please call David Lychek, Director – Ocean & Air Services at (905) 882-4880, ext. 1207.
