Striking International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada workers march to a rally as gantry cranes used to load and unload cargo containers from ships sit idle at port in Vancouver on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Thousands of workers at British Columbia's ports will take off the day shift today to learn the details of an agreement struck between their union and employers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
VANCOUVER – Thousands of workers at British Columbia’s ports will take off the day shift today to learn the details of an agreement struck between their union and employers.
The BC Maritime Employers Association says the offer being presented is the same one leaders of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union had previously rejected, which briefly sent workers back to the picket line last week.
A 13-day strike that started on Canada Day stopped billions of dollars’ worth of goods from moving in and out of some of the country’s busiest ports.
Strike action was suspended when the contract was reached with the help of a mediator, but was then reinstated when the union leadership turned down the plan.
A labour board ruled the second strike action by the port workers was illegal, prompting the union to issue 72-hour strike notice, which it then reversed hours later.
Union members are now expected to vote on the offer later this week, but there’s no word yet on when the results could be made public.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2023.
