Strike at B.C. ports remains hinged on 'one sentence,' union says
Story by Naimul Karim • July 5,2023
Striking port workers belonging to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada walk the picket line near the Port of Vancouver’s entrance in Vancouver.
The key issue that’s prolonging a workers’ strike at the ports of British Columbia is linked to a document that details the use of contractual workers and is complete except for one sentence, the union representing the workers said.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents thousands of workers who stopped working at the B.C. ports on July 1, said its authority over work that involves maintenance has been “aggressively eroded” by employers using third-party contractors.
“This is not an issue of cost for the direct employers because they already pay for this work to be done by maintenance contracting companies,” ILWU president Rob Ashton said in a statement on July 4. “Using ILWU skilled trades employees will be more cost effective and will result in a higher quality of work because of their industry experience and competency.”
But the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA), which represents 49 of B.C.’s private-sector waterfront employers, said the union is looking to “aggressively expand” its scope far beyond what is set out in the industry-wide agreement that has been in place for decades.
The association also said the ports experience significant labour shortages on a regular basis and that while the ILWU has the authority to exclusively supply workers in the current agreement, it has consistently been “unable to fulfill the trades work they have jurisdiction over.”
For example, the BCMEA said that, on average, 17 per cent of the jobs that needed to be filled through the ILWU were unfilled last year.
“This lack of labour supply has immediate impacts on terminal productivity,” BCMEA said in a statement on July 4.
In response, the ILWU said it has enough registered trade workers to meet employers’ demands, but BCMEA members refuse to use or train them as required.
The union’s other demands include higher pay to compensate for rising costs. The median salary for unionized port workers in B.C. last year was $136,000.
BCMEA members are collectively responsible for handling about 16 per cent of Canada’s total traded goods annually, so the strike at the ports has raised concerns among businesses about rising costs.
On July 3, Canada’s largest railway company, Canadian National Railway Co., said the damage inflicted could take months to correct.
The Retail Council of Canada warned that any delays caused by the strike could increase consumer prices since shipping companies charge for the time that goods are on ships, trains, trucks or in container terminals. It added that the impact could be North America-wide since many imported consumer goods enter Canada through B.C. ports.
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture, which represents about 190,000 farmers, said the longer the strike lasts, the worse the impacts will be because companies with vessels delayed in port charge demurrage fees and other penalties that are passed down to farmers.
Canada’s largest mining group, the Mining Association of Canada , said the port shutdowns have put the country’s reputation as a trusted producer of minerals in question.
Devin Dreeshen, Alberta’s minister of transportation and economic corridors, said he wants the federal government to recall Parliament to consider back-to-work legislation to end the strike.
But so far, the federal government hasn’t shown any such intention. Seamus O’ Regan, minister of labour, in a tweet on July 4 urged both parties to “immediately return to the bargaining table and remain there until a deal is reached.”
Story by Naimul Karim • July 5,2023
Financial Post
Striking port workers belonging to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada walk the picket line near the Port of Vancouver’s entrance in Vancouver.
The key issue that’s prolonging a workers’ strike at the ports of British Columbia is linked to a document that details the use of contractual workers and is complete except for one sentence, the union representing the workers said.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents thousands of workers who stopped working at the B.C. ports on July 1, said its authority over work that involves maintenance has been “aggressively eroded” by employers using third-party contractors.
“This is not an issue of cost for the direct employers because they already pay for this work to be done by maintenance contracting companies,” ILWU president Rob Ashton said in a statement on July 4. “Using ILWU skilled trades employees will be more cost effective and will result in a higher quality of work because of their industry experience and competency.”
But the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA), which represents 49 of B.C.’s private-sector waterfront employers, said the union is looking to “aggressively expand” its scope far beyond what is set out in the industry-wide agreement that has been in place for decades.
The association also said the ports experience significant labour shortages on a regular basis and that while the ILWU has the authority to exclusively supply workers in the current agreement, it has consistently been “unable to fulfill the trades work they have jurisdiction over.”
For example, the BCMEA said that, on average, 17 per cent of the jobs that needed to be filled through the ILWU were unfilled last year.
“This lack of labour supply has immediate impacts on terminal productivity,” BCMEA said in a statement on July 4.
In response, the ILWU said it has enough registered trade workers to meet employers’ demands, but BCMEA members refuse to use or train them as required.
The union’s other demands include higher pay to compensate for rising costs. The median salary for unionized port workers in B.C. last year was $136,000.
BCMEA members are collectively responsible for handling about 16 per cent of Canada’s total traded goods annually, so the strike at the ports has raised concerns among businesses about rising costs.
On July 3, Canada’s largest railway company, Canadian National Railway Co., said the damage inflicted could take months to correct.
The Retail Council of Canada warned that any delays caused by the strike could increase consumer prices since shipping companies charge for the time that goods are on ships, trains, trucks or in container terminals. It added that the impact could be North America-wide since many imported consumer goods enter Canada through B.C. ports.
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture, which represents about 190,000 farmers, said the longer the strike lasts, the worse the impacts will be because companies with vessels delayed in port charge demurrage fees and other penalties that are passed down to farmers.
Canada’s largest mining group, the Mining Association of Canada , said the port shutdowns have put the country’s reputation as a trusted producer of minerals in question.
Devin Dreeshen, Alberta’s minister of transportation and economic corridors, said he wants the federal government to recall Parliament to consider back-to-work legislation to end the strike.
But so far, the federal government hasn’t shown any such intention. Seamus O’ Regan, minister of labour, in a tweet on July 4 urged both parties to “immediately return to the bargaining table and remain there until a deal is reached.”
A quick look at the ongoing strike by British Columbia port workers
The Canadian Press
Tue, July 4, 2023
VANCOUVER — About 7,400 workers have been on strike at ports along British Columbia's coast since Saturday morning.
Contract talks between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and the BC Maritime Employers Association broke down Monday.
Here are some key facts in the dispute:
— The union represents workers who load and unload cargo at terminals at more than 30 B.C. ports, including Canada's busiest, the Port of Vancouver.
— The association represents 49 private-sector employers and its website says the industry contributes $2.7 billion to Canada's GDP while handling roughly 16 per cent of the country's total traded goods.
— The union's previous contract expired at the end of March after negotiations aimed at reaching a new deal began in February.
— In early June, union members voted 99.24 per cent in favour of authorizing strike action if required.
— Workers walked off the job Saturday and contract talks stalled Monday, with the union saying the employers had changed their position on a key issue.
— A statement from the union on Tuesday said the key issue holding up a deal is the contracting out of maintenance work by employers. It said the employers' association and its member companies had refused to agree on a regular maintenance document that is complete except for one sentence.
— The employers' association said Monday that it didn't believe more bargaining would produce a deal and said the union was being unreasonable when it came to compensation.
— The union has previously said contracting out, port automation and the cost of living are key issues in the dispute.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2023.
The Canadian Press
Tue, July 4, 2023
VANCOUVER — About 7,400 workers have been on strike at ports along British Columbia's coast since Saturday morning.
Contract talks between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and the BC Maritime Employers Association broke down Monday.
Here are some key facts in the dispute:
— The union represents workers who load and unload cargo at terminals at more than 30 B.C. ports, including Canada's busiest, the Port of Vancouver.
— The association represents 49 private-sector employers and its website says the industry contributes $2.7 billion to Canada's GDP while handling roughly 16 per cent of the country's total traded goods.
— The union's previous contract expired at the end of March after negotiations aimed at reaching a new deal began in February.
— In early June, union members voted 99.24 per cent in favour of authorizing strike action if required.
— Workers walked off the job Saturday and contract talks stalled Monday, with the union saying the employers had changed their position on a key issue.
— A statement from the union on Tuesday said the key issue holding up a deal is the contracting out of maintenance work by employers. It said the employers' association and its member companies had refused to agree on a regular maintenance document that is complete except for one sentence.
— The employers' association said Monday that it didn't believe more bargaining would produce a deal and said the union was being unreasonable when it came to compensation.
— The union has previously said contracting out, port automation and the cost of living are key issues in the dispute.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2023.
B.C. port strike talks are deadlocked over maintenance, both sides say
The Canadian Press
Tue, July 4, 2023
VANCOUVER — Talks between maritime employers and the union involved in British Columbia's port strike are deadlocked over maintenance work, both sides say.
The union blamed the employers association for failing to agree on "one sentence" in a maintenance deal, while the association said the union was trying to "aggressively expand" control over work it was already unable to fulfil.
More than 7,000 workers at 30 ports across B.C. have been on strike since Saturday morning, leading business organizations as well as officials in both Alberta and Saskatchewan to call on Ottawa to step in.
In a statement issued Tuesday, a day after talks stalled, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada said its jurisdiction over maintenance has been eroded by employers in the BC Maritime Employers Association who were using contractors.
"The key issue that is holding up getting a deal is contracting out of ILWU maintenance work by member employers of the BCMEA and the refusal of the association and its member companies to agree on a regular maintenance document that is all but complete — except for one sentence."
The employers association, meanwhile, said it had hoped Monday's pause "would act as a reset in negotiations" but "regrettably" the union had shown no willingness to modify its position.
"ILWU Canada is attempting to aggressively expand their scope and redefine regular maintenance work far beyond what is set out in the industry-wide agreement, which has been legally well established for decades," it said Tuesday.
It said the union exclusively supplies maintenance labour under the current collective agreement but "it has been consistently unable to fulfil the trades work they have jurisdiction over."
The union has previously said contracting out, port automation and the cost of living are key issues in the dispute.
Devin Dreeshen, Alberta's minister of transportation and economic corridors, said he wants the federal government to recall Parliament to consider back-to-work legislation to end the strike.
Dreeshen said he's frustrated the strike has continued, particularly because Ottawa used legislation in 2021 to end a walkout by Port of Montreal dock workers after one day.
"They used Parliament to resolve it. And that same amount of urgency is something that we're hoping that the federal government has in this case as well," he said.
Dreeshen said Tuesday that Alberta has asked federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan for daily updates on negotiations between the BC Maritime Employers Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada.
"It's vitally important that the supply chain, this being a main critical component of it, remains open," he said.
O'Regan said Tuesday that federal mediators continue to support both sides in their negotiations.
"We encourage both parties to immediately return to the bargaining table and remain there until a deal is reached," he said on Twitter.
"Collective bargaining is hard work but it's how the best, most resilient deals are made."
In a separate statement responding to calls for back-to-work legislation, O'Regan's office said that it's "not looking past the bargaining table, because the best deals are made at the table."
Hartley Witten, a spokesman for the minister's office, said the primary difference between the situation in Montreal and the current strike is that there was an eight-month truce between the parties in Montreal before the strike.
"Here we had federal mediators that were involved for a number of months before, but I think to suggest there was the same sort of lead-up and we were caught flat-footed, is incorrect."
He said every collective bargaining situation has unique circumstances and B.C.'s case involves significantly more ports than the single location in Montreal.
Dreeshen said western ports, particularly the Port of Vancouver, are "incredibly important" to Alberta's economy. He said 80 per cent of exports that travel through the Port of Vancouver comes from the Prairies.
Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan's minister of trade and export development, said Tuesday that shippers in that province have warned the strike is already slowing down the flow of goods, and the current work stoppage will have long-lasting effects on the supply chain.
"It may take weeks or even months to fully recover from these disruptions. Strain on the supply chain leads to additional costs that end up being passed along to consumers, including those in Saskatchewan," he said.
"We encourage the government of Canada to do everything within its power to facilitate a resolution in the best interests of all Canadians.”
Dreeshen said Alberta has yet to see shortages of perishable goods on grocery shelves but that could come "very soon."
Groups representing Canadian businesses also want the federal government to intervene, with one organization calling for legal changes that would discourage future disruptions.
On Tuesday, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters said designating ports and rail lines as essential infrastructure and limiting when and where labour and other disruptions can occur would provide manufacturers the stability they need.
"A strike of this magnitude not only disrupts the Canadian economy but damages our global trading reputation, hurts already fragile supply chains, and puts jobs at risk," the group said in a statement.
"Given that the federal government understands what is at stake, (Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters) urges them to intervene now to reassure manufacturers that they will not bear the brunt of a labour dispute that is beyond their control."
The group, which says its members account for about 82 per cent of total manufacturing production and 90 per cent of Canada's exports, estimates that the movement of $500 million worth of goods is being disrupted every day.
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is meanwhile asking Ottawa to "use every tool at its disposal" to ensure a deal is struck to resume activity at the city's port, including back-to-work legislation, if necessary.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2023.
Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press
Further negotiations won't bring end to B.C. port workers strike, employers say
The Canadian Press
Mon, July 3, 2023 at 5:49 p.m. MDT·2 min read
VANCOUVER — The association representing employers in an ongoing strike at British Columbia ports says it doesn't think more bargaining is going to produce a collective agreement.
The BC Maritime Employers Association released a statement Monday afternoon saying it had gone as far as possible on core issues.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, representing thousands of workers who load and unload cargo at terminals at more than 30 B.C. ports, walked off the job Saturday morning.
Both sides negotiated over the weekend and were at the table earlier in the day on Monday.
The association said it has advanced "reasonable proposals and positions in good faith" but said the union refuses to budge.
"ILWU Canada went on strike over demands that were and continue to be outside any reasonable framework for settlement. Given the foregoing mentioned, the BCMEA is of the view that a continuation of bargaining at this time is not going to produce a collective agreement," the statement read.
"ILWU Canada needs to decide if they are going to continue this strike with no hope of settlement, or significantly modify their position so a fair and balanced deal can be reached."
Union representatives could not immediately be reached for comment, but had previously accused the employers association of demanding "major concessions" despite amassing what the union described as record profits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The strike led businesses organizations to issue warnings about wide-reaching implications across the country, with some pushing for the federal government to step in with back-to-work legislation.
The union, meanwhile, warned Ottawa not to interfere.
On Sunday, union president Rob Ashton suggested the employers association wanted Ottawa to step in. He said if that happened "there will never be labour peace on the waterfront."
That same day, federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan said the focus of negotiations "needs to be on the table."
The association represents 49 private sector employers operating in B.C. ports, and its website says the industry contributes $2.7 billion to Canada's GDP while handling roughly 16 per cent of the country's total traded goods -- amounting to $180 billion in 2020.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2023.
The Canadian Press
Mon, July 3, 2023 at 5:49 p.m. MDT·2 min read
VANCOUVER — The association representing employers in an ongoing strike at British Columbia ports says it doesn't think more bargaining is going to produce a collective agreement.
The BC Maritime Employers Association released a statement Monday afternoon saying it had gone as far as possible on core issues.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, representing thousands of workers who load and unload cargo at terminals at more than 30 B.C. ports, walked off the job Saturday morning.
Both sides negotiated over the weekend and were at the table earlier in the day on Monday.
The association said it has advanced "reasonable proposals and positions in good faith" but said the union refuses to budge.
"ILWU Canada went on strike over demands that were and continue to be outside any reasonable framework for settlement. Given the foregoing mentioned, the BCMEA is of the view that a continuation of bargaining at this time is not going to produce a collective agreement," the statement read.
"ILWU Canada needs to decide if they are going to continue this strike with no hope of settlement, or significantly modify their position so a fair and balanced deal can be reached."
Union representatives could not immediately be reached for comment, but had previously accused the employers association of demanding "major concessions" despite amassing what the union described as record profits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The strike led businesses organizations to issue warnings about wide-reaching implications across the country, with some pushing for the federal government to step in with back-to-work legislation.
The union, meanwhile, warned Ottawa not to interfere.
On Sunday, union president Rob Ashton suggested the employers association wanted Ottawa to step in. He said if that happened "there will never be labour peace on the waterfront."
That same day, federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan said the focus of negotiations "needs to be on the table."
The association represents 49 private sector employers operating in B.C. ports, and its website says the industry contributes $2.7 billion to Canada's GDP while handling roughly 16 per cent of the country's total traded goods -- amounting to $180 billion in 2020.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2023.
Canada’s West Coast Port Strike Seen Putting Country’s Reputation at Risk
Curtis Heinzl
Tue, July 4, 2023
(Bloomberg) -- A strike by dockworkers on Canada’s west coast stretched into a fourth day, causing business groups to warn of a growing risk to the country’s economy and reputation.
An extended strike will primarily hurt Canada’s exports of steelmaking coal, copper concentrates and potash, Mining Association of Canada President Pierre Gratton said.
The bulk of Canada’s steelmaking coal is produced in British Columbia, mostly by Teck Resources Ltd., and shipped through Vancouver to countries including Japan and Korea, Gratton said. Teck said it can divert shipments through other terminals to mitigate the impact of the strikes, but Gratton said a disruption longer than a week would have “severe” consequences for Canada’s economy.
“Our reputation as a trading country that can be relied upon is at stake,” said Matthew Holmes, a senior vice president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The chamber wants Parliament, which began its summer recess last month, to return and pass legislation bring the workers back, Holmes said.
Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan said federal mediators were still at work, and the government wants to see a negotiated deal.
About C$800 million ($605 million) of goods — a quarter of Canada’s imports and exports — pass through the affected ports each day. A strike means most of these goods must either wait in the port or be re-routed through the US.
Grain shipments have continued amid the strike as required by the Canada Labour Code.
A slowdown in exports could affect global supply chains, Fertilizer Canada Chief Executive Officer Karen Proud said. Canada is the world’s largest producer of potash — a group of potassium compounds used in fertilizer. The war in Ukraine has already complicated fertilizer availability from Russia and Belarus — which also are major producers — and a reduction in Canadian exports would further strain the supply, Proud said.
Canadian import and export infrastructure has been obstructed several times in the last few years, including during a railway strike in 2019, the blockage of a major trucking bridge in 2022 and interference by public-service workers at the Port of Montreal earlier this year.
“If these events continue to occur, it makes people think twice whether Canada is the place to move your product from,” said Brian Kingston, CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association.
--With assistance from Jacob Lorinc.
Curtis Heinzl
Tue, July 4, 2023
(Bloomberg) -- A strike by dockworkers on Canada’s west coast stretched into a fourth day, causing business groups to warn of a growing risk to the country’s economy and reputation.
An extended strike will primarily hurt Canada’s exports of steelmaking coal, copper concentrates and potash, Mining Association of Canada President Pierre Gratton said.
The bulk of Canada’s steelmaking coal is produced in British Columbia, mostly by Teck Resources Ltd., and shipped through Vancouver to countries including Japan and Korea, Gratton said. Teck said it can divert shipments through other terminals to mitigate the impact of the strikes, but Gratton said a disruption longer than a week would have “severe” consequences for Canada’s economy.
“Our reputation as a trading country that can be relied upon is at stake,” said Matthew Holmes, a senior vice president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The chamber wants Parliament, which began its summer recess last month, to return and pass legislation bring the workers back, Holmes said.
Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan said federal mediators were still at work, and the government wants to see a negotiated deal.
About C$800 million ($605 million) of goods — a quarter of Canada’s imports and exports — pass through the affected ports each day. A strike means most of these goods must either wait in the port or be re-routed through the US.
Grain shipments have continued amid the strike as required by the Canada Labour Code.
A slowdown in exports could affect global supply chains, Fertilizer Canada Chief Executive Officer Karen Proud said. Canada is the world’s largest producer of potash — a group of potassium compounds used in fertilizer. The war in Ukraine has already complicated fertilizer availability from Russia and Belarus — which also are major producers — and a reduction in Canadian exports would further strain the supply, Proud said.
Canadian import and export infrastructure has been obstructed several times in the last few years, including during a railway strike in 2019, the blockage of a major trucking bridge in 2022 and interference by public-service workers at the Port of Montreal earlier this year.
“If these events continue to occur, it makes people think twice whether Canada is the place to move your product from,” said Brian Kingston, CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association.
--With assistance from Jacob Lorinc.
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