Turmoil Returns to BC Ports as Dockworkers Reject Maritime Association’s Agreement for Second Time

The Canadian Press is reporting that late Friday evening (7-28-23), BC ports were thrown back into turmoil when members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, representing 7,400 dockworkers at the Ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, overwhelmingly rejected the offer presented by the BC Maritime Employers Association.

On Friday night, the union issued a brief statement that called for “Our direct employers to come to the table and negotiate something that works for our members and the union.” Dockworkers have been working without a contract since March 31st and noted that negotiations had been ongoing since late last year.

Federal Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan released a statement on Saturday (7-29-23) saying that he had directed the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to determine if a negotiated resolution in the dispute is still possible after the union’s rejection of the latest deal. O’Regan said the board is to “Either impose a new collective agreement on the parties or impose final binding arbitration” if it determines that a negotiated resolution is no longer possible.