On Thursday, May 30th at 8:00 AM, the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) intends to lockout dockworkers from its West Coast ports, such as Vancouver and Prince Rupert. The action is the result of on-going labor contract negotiations with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada (ILWU Canada) that expired back in March 2018.
Negotiations broke down on Monday when the BCMEA walked out of the meeting after tensions around port automation once again soured the conversation. Shortly after, a formal lockout notice was issued by port employers citing work slowdowns and overtime bans as critical factors that led to the decision.
“Our preference remains to resolve this at the bargaining table without disruption; however, as a result of the recent and significant disruptions caused by ILWU-Canada’s work-to-rule job action, we can no longer effectively and safely operate the impacted terminals. This has already caused cargo diversion from the B.C. coast and threatens further loss of cargo.”
Jeff Scott, BCMEA Chairman
Weeks ago, ILWU Canada members overwhelmingly voted in favor (98.4%) of striking against employers but had chosen to take more moderate steps so as not to impact regular operations. Work slowdowns have been coordinated by following terminal’s speed limits, rejecting overtime, and refusing to arrive early for shifts. Robert Ashton, ILWU Canada President, called the BCMEA action “heavy-handed,” and reminded the 55 waterfront employers that the ILWU is and has been available to meet through Canada’s Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Port automation has always been a tense issue for labor and employers. Fearing job losses of up to 80-90%, as seen in other automated terminals, the ILWU wants to keep the issue on the table and get straight answers from BCMEA for their long-term plans. British Columbian ports compete against the U.S. terminals which have already begun automation to assist in dense, high-capacity container trade lanes. The cost of automated improvements can range from $160 million to $300 million and must be recovered from the labor side of the equation, leaving dockworkers fighting to secure their jobs.
ILWU Canada and BCMEA are scheduled to meet at noon on Wednesday, May 28, 2019 in an effort to come to an agreement and hopefully, eliminate the threat of lockout and backlogged cargoes.
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