Canadian Government Orders Binding Arbitration to End Port Strikes

Canada’s Labor Minister, Steven MacKinnon, announced on Tuesday that he is intervening to end the work stoppages at ports in both British Columbia and Montreal, CBC News reported (11-12-24).

MacKinnon said that the negotiations have reached an impasse, and he is directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the resumption of all operations at the ports and move the talks to binding arbitration.

MacKinnon said the work stoppages at the ports of British Columbia and the Port of Montreal are significantly impacting supply chains, thousands of jobs, and Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner.

“Negotiated agreements are the best way forward, but we must not allow other Canadians to suffer when certain parties do not fulfil their responsibility to reach an agreement,” MacKinnon said in a statement announcing the decision. “It is my duty and responsibility to act in the interest of businesses, workers, farmers, families, and all Canadians.”

At a press conference Tuesday morning, MacKinnon said he doesn’t take lightly the decision to intervene in the collective bargaining process, but the negotiations were all at an impasse without an immediate way forward. That made the duration of the stoppage unclear and created real economic risk, he said. “Canadians have limited tolerance right now for economic self-harm.”

The Maritime Employers Association locked out 1,200 longshore workers at the Port of Montreal on Sunday night after workers voted to reject what employers called a final contract offer. The job action came after port workers in British Columbia were locked out last week amid a labor dispute involving more than 700 longshore supervisors, resulting in a paralysis of container cargo traffic at terminals on the West Coast.