The provincewide lockout against a union of more than 700 foremen at all British Columbia ports is expected to begin at 8 a.m. Tugboats guide a cargo ship from a berth at port, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
VANCOUVER – The association representing British Columbia port employers is preparing to lock out more than 700 foremen as it awaits the union’s promised job action.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 had issued a 72-hour strike notice on Thursday, saying it would take “limited job action” at 8 a.m. on Monday.
In response, the BC Maritime Employers Association issued a notice of lockout in the event of strike action, describing it as defensive action that would shut all cargo operations but leave cruise ships and grain vessels operating.
Rob MacKay-Dunn, vice-president of the association, says there continues to be “limited” activity at the Port of Vancouver this morning, and their group will confirm the next steps throughout the day.
The association had said its lockout was meant to “facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations” in light of “escalating and unpredictable strike action.”
A statement from the association on Sunday said its final offer in the contract negotiations remained open after being issued to union leadership on Wednesday, and that if it were accepted, it would avoid “unnecessary strike action.”
The union has accused the association of “acting recklessly,” saying the lockout threat was an “attempt to force the federal government to intervene in the dispute.”
Union president Frank Morena said in a statement on Sunday that the employers had threatened to remove parts of the existing collective agreement if the union did not accept its final offer.
“Let me be crystal clear to the BCMEA: our union will not sign any contract which includes concessions that remove existing parts of our collective agreement that our members fought long and hard for over many years,” Morena said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.
