Talks stall in BC strike, business groups call for intervention

As talks stall between the union and employers, Canadian business groups are calling for the government to step in an end the longshore workers strike in British Columbia.

About 7,400 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) walked off the job in a legal strike on July 1. The ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, along with 28 others are affected by the work stoppage.

Negotiations between ILWU and the BC Maritime Employers Association, which represents businesses at 30 BC ports, had been continuing since the strike began. However, at the end of the day on July 3, the BCMEA issued a statement saying: “ILWU Canada went on strike over demands that were and continue to be outside any reasonable framework for settlement. Given the foregoing mentioned, the BCMEA is of the view that a continuation of bargaining at this time is not going to produce a collective agreement.”

The union issued a statement saying the BCMEA “deliberately sabotaged the progress that had been made therefore we must question their motives and the appropriateness of the BCMEA bargaining committee to actually negotiate a collective bargaining agreement…We hope that the association is not hiding behind the threat of back to work legislation and binding arbitration to avoid engaging in bargaining with the union.”

According to Marine Traffic, 58 vessels arrived at Vancouver in the past 24 hours, there are 179 vessels in port at Vancouver and another 56 scheduled.

Numerous business groups have weighed in asking for a quick resolution to the dispute.

“The government must quickly put in place legislation to ensure that port activities are fully maintained even in the event of a strike. The Canadian economy and our small businesses don’t have the luxury of waiting before the government uses every means at its disposal to bring this strike to a swift end,” said Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) vice-president, national affairs, Jasmin Guénette, in a statement.

Fertilizer Canada called on the federal government to “support the expeditious resolution of this strike to protect Canada’s imports and exports, as well as our reputation on the world stage as a reliable trading partner”.

“The fertilizer industry depends on reliable supply chains to get our products to farmers. This strike is one of many disruptions we have seen and underscores the importance of strengthening Canada’s supply chains,” said Karen Proud, president and CEO of Fertilizer Canada.

Potash exports are worth about $5.52 billion annually, and most of that trade leaves Canada via West Coast ports, the association said.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Manfacturers and Exporters (CME) have also urged the federal government to intervene “to prevent further disruption to Canada’s supply chains and limit the impact on Canadians, who are bearing the cost of inflationary pressures. The government should immediately recall Parliament to pass back-to-work legislation to protect the livelihoods of Canadian workers and the health of Canadian businesses affected by disruption to the more than $800 million worth of cargo flowing through West Coast ports every single day,” said Robin Guy, the Chamber’s vice-president and deputy leader of government relations.

In a statement CME said: “The federal government must intervene… Disruptions like these threaten our members’ businesses, do damage to Canada’s global reputation as a trusted trade partner, hurt fragile supply chains, and cost jobs. Manufacturers, and the Canadian economy, cannot afford a strike at our largest and busiest ports.”