Labour Negotiation Updates : BC Port
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Updates as of November 15, 2024
Canadian Unions Plan Court Challenges to Arbitration Ending Port Strikes
The unions representing the foremen for ports in British Columbia and the dockworkers in Montreal both responded angrily to the #announcement that the federal government was mandating final and binding arbitration in their contract disputes.
On the West Coast, where the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Ship & Dock Foremen Local 514 has been locked out since November 4, the union leadership called the government’s #decision “an insult” and said it was denying workers’ bargaining rights.
“We will fight the arbitrated forced contract in the courts,” said Frank Morena, president of the local, in a press release. “Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has unfairly given the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) the one-sided federal intervention it wanted from locking out workers and closing BC ports.”
At the same time, the Quebec branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the Port of Montreal’s nearly 1,200 dockworkers, called it a “dark day for workers’ rights.” In a press release, the union asserted, “The right to collective bargaining is a constitutional right.”
Read more in an article from The Maritime Executive.
Updates as of November 12, 2024
CIFFA Letter to Labour Minister Regarding Port Work Stoppages
CIFFA wrote to federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, urging him and the federal government to consider classifying the key port work forces as “essential,” thereby ensuring that a different and more reliable mechanism can be employed to resolve labour/management negotiations.
CIFFA Among 130 Groups Calling for Federal Action on B.C. Ports Dispute
A total of 130 #Canadian associations and organizations signed a Canadian Chamber of Commerce letter to federal government expressing concern over the shutdown of British Columbia ports.
B.C. ports are crucial to Canada’s #economy, handling $800 million worth of cargo daily, representing roughly 25% of the country’s total goods flow. In the letter, addressed to labour minister Steven MacKinnon and transport minister Anita Anand, the Chamber of Commerce said that a 13-day strike at B.C. ports last year resulted in a 23% drop in exports from the province, marking the lowest export levels since the pandemic.
Read more in an article from Today's Trucking.
By : Krystyna Shchedrina, Trucknews
Updates as of November 11, 2024
West Coast Ports Negotiations Update: FMCS Mediation Concludes Without Resolution
The BCMEA and ILWU Local 514 met with the #assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) on Saturday. The parties met separately with the FMCS and, based on discussions, no progress was made. On that basis, the FMCS concluded the mediation and no further meetings are scheduled.
In an effort to bring the #negotiations to a close, the BCMEA provided a final offer to ILWU Local 514 on October 30.
ILWU Local 514 responded to the final offer with strike notice, followed by industry-wide strike action on Monday, November 4.
On November 7, ILWU Local 514 filed a complaint at the CIRB about the BCMEA’s conduct in bargaining. BCMEA denies any wrongdoing.
Read more in updates from BCMEA.
Updates as of November 5, 2024
Labour Minister Comments on B.C. Ports Labour Negotiations
Canada's #Minister of #Labour Steven MacKinnon posted on Saturday on X, as follows: Today, I spoke with the BCMEA and ILWU 514 on the negotiations for their new collective agreement. Federal mediators are on site, ready to assist the parties.
"It is the responsibility of the parties to reach an agreement. Businesses, workers, and farmers are counting on them to get a deal."
Written by : CIFFA
Updates as of November 4, 2024
Beginning Monday November 4: ILWU Local 514 strike action, BCMEA Lockout Coastwide
In response to #ILWU Local 514's second strike notice set to commence on Monday, November 4 at or about 08:00 am PT, and in anticipation of escalating and unpredictable strike action, the BCMEA announced it has made a decision to take defensive action in the form of a coastwide lockout.
BCMEA’s statement said:
ILWU Local 514's #strike action will have repercussions across B.C.'s waterfront operations, and strike activity can easily escalate, including a complete withdrawal of labour without notice. Accordingly, to facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations, the BCMEA has issued formal notice of its intention to defensively lock out all ILWU Local 514 members on Monday, November 4 at or around 08:00 am PT. Should it be required, this coastwide lockout will shut down all cargo operations of BCMEA Member companies across the province. It will not affect longshoring operations on grain vessels or cruise operations.
In the interest of all #Canadians, the industry is prepared to rescind lockout notice if ILWU Local 514 chooses to withdraw its strike notice.
Written by : CIFFA
The BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) has published the following bargaining update
The #ILWU Local 514 has issued a 72-hour strike notice against all BCMEA ports, commencing Monday, November 4th at 08:00 Pacific Time.
Accordingly, the #BCMEA has issued formal notice of its intention to defensively lock out all ILWU Local 514 members on Monday, November 4 at 09:00 am PT. Should it be required, this coastwide lockout will shut down all cargo operations of BCMEA Member companies across the province. It will not affect longshoring operations on grain vessels or cruise operations.
As a result, #CN will be suspending all international intermodal capacity at our inland terminals (including CSX & NS interchange traffic from Ohio Valley) on Monday November 4, 2024 for exports destined for Prince Rupert, Robbank, Centerm, Vanterm, and Fraser Surrey Docks. This will help with a safe & orderly shutdown of trains destined to BC ports.
Written by : CN
Responding to ILWU 514 Second Strike Notice, BCMEA Issues Notice of Defensive Lockout Coastwide
The BCMEA #announced November 1 that in response to ILWU Local 514's second strike notice set to commence on Monday, November 4 at or about 08:00 am PT, and in anticipation of escalating and unpredictable strike action, the BCMEA has made a decision to take defensive action in the form of a coastwide lockout.
The statement reads as follows:
“ #ILWU Local 514's strike action will have repercussions across B.C.'s waterfront operations, and strike activity can easily escalate, including a complete withdrawal of labour without notice. Accordingly, to facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations, the BCMEA has issued formal notice of its intention to defensively lock out all ILWU Local 514 members on Monday, November 4 at or around 08:00 am PT. Should it be required, this coastwide lockout will shut down all cargo operations of BCMEA Member companies across the province. It will not affect longshoring operations on grain vessels or cruise operations.
We did not arrive to this #decision lightly. This regretful action follows thorough consideration of ILWU Local 514's continued intransigence and their provocative decision to proceed with another strike notice, despite being found to have been bargaining in bad faith on three occasions.
The #BCMEA appreciates that Canada's West Coast ports and global trade require certainty and predictability to operate. ILWU Local 514 continues to put Canada's supply chain and all those that depend on it at risk with its repeated inflammatory and disruptive behaviour.
The Parties met this week with the assistance of #FMCS. The BCMEA was deeply disappointed that ILWU Local 514 came to mediation at this late stage of bargaining, with proposals and positions that took bargaining backwards, and thus further from achieving a collective agreement.
On Wednesday the BCMEA provided a balanced and competitive final #offer to ILWU Local 514. If accepted, it will provide all forepersons with significant gains in wages and benefits without concession requests from employers. The final offer includes a 19.2% wage increase, which would enhance the median foreperson compensation from $246,323 to $293,617 annually, not including benefits and pension. On average, eligible workers would receive a cumulative lump sum payment of approximately $21,000, inclusive of signing bonus and retroactive pay increases back to April 2023. Subject to the date of acceptance, the BCMEA will agree to accelerate and pay retroactivity and the signing bonus in full to each member by mid-December.
Despite ILWU Local 514's #regrettable decision to repeatedly destabilize Canada's supply chain, the BCMEA's comprehensive offer remains open until withdrawn.
In the interest of all #Canadians, the industry is prepared to rescind lockout notice if ILWU Local 514 chooses to withdraw its strike notice.
We will continue to provide updates as appropriate.”- end of BCMEA statement.
Written by : CIFFA
ILWU Local 514 Serves Industry-Wide 72-Hour Strike Notice to All BCMEA Member Companies, Effective 08:00 AM PT, Monday, November 4
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Ship & Dock Foremen Local 514 (ILWU Local 514) has provided formal, written 72-hour notice of intended industry-wide strike action against all BCMEA member companies, commencing on Monday, November 4 at or about 8:00 am PT.
On Wednesday, the BCMEA provided a final offer to ILWU Local 514 in what it called "a sincere commitment to conclude #negotiations in a manner that serves the best interests of both Parties and Canadians alike."
It said: "The final offer provides a fair agreement without requiring #concessions from ILWU Local 514 and covers all matters remaining in dispute. If accepted, this competitive deal will provide all ILWU Local 514 members with significant gains in wages, benefits and a signing bonus paid out by mid-December. The BCMEA and ILWU Local 514 have been engaged in bargaining for nearly two years to renew their collective agreement that expired in March 2023."
Read more in negotiation updates from the BCMEA.