Port employers in British Columbia say they may be “required to re-evaluate” their position on a current offer to more than 700 unionized workers as a lockout shuts down most west coast shipping.
The BC Maritime Employers Association says there has been no cooperation with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 or federal mediators since it locked out workers Monday in response to strike activity by the union.
A statement from the association said the current offer made last week was their “final” offer and remains on the table, but that position may change “as the shutdown continues.”
The union has said the offer is open until it is withdrawn, and it is unclear whether what the employers are considering is a withdrawal of the offer or changes to the terms of the proposed contract.
The union says there have been no developments in the dispute overnight, as container cargo traffic at ports across BC from Vancouver to Prince Rupert and Nanaimo is shut down in the latest labor dispute at Canada’s ports.
Employers say the final offer includes a 19.2 percent pay increase over a four-year period along with other improvements, while workers say the agreement does not address what future staffing levels will look like with the advent of port automation.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on November 6, 2024.
