B.C. Port Lockout Set to Begin as No Deal Reached in Contract Dispute with Foremen Union

A provincewide lockout affecting more than 700 foremen at British Columbia’s ports is set to begin at 8 a.m. PT, with fears that the move could halt trade across Canada’s West Coast. The B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) announced the lockout as a "defensive" measure in response to escalating strike actions from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514, which also planned job action for the same time.

The BCMEA explained the lockout as necessary to ensure a "safe and orderly wind-down of operations." In contrast, the ILWU has condemned the action, accusing the BCMEA of trying to pressure the federal government into intervening. The union’s president, Frank Morena, stated that they would not accept any deal involving concessions that would remove long-standing protections in their collective agreement.

The potential impact of the lockout is significant, with over $800 million in trade moving daily through West Coast ports. Bridgitte Anderson, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, expressed serious concerns over the disruption this could cause to various industries nationwide. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has called for Ottawa to declare the ports an essential service to prevent future shutdowns and ensure constant operations.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon stated that federal mediators are prepared to assist, urging both parties to find a resolution as businesses, workers, and farmers rely on the ports to stay open.