Members of the International Longshore Workers Union (ILWU) Canada have issued a 72-hour strike notice that that will see industrial action begin on 1 July.
Unionised dockers voted overwhelmingly for strike action on 9 and 10 June as talks between employers in Vancouver and Prince Rupert and the ILWU Canada faltered.
ILWU Canada president Rob Ashton issued a letter to the employers’ body, the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) on 28 June informing both employers and government of the dockworkers’ intention to strike. Ashton accused the employers of holding workers in contempt.
“Their only objective is to take away the rights and conditions from longshore workers after having gorged themselves on record profits during the pandemic,” he said.
Negotiations between the union and BCMEA began in February to renew the collective agreement which expired on 31 March with the major points of dispute being the contracting out of work to non-union labour, the impact of automation and wages in a high inflation economic environment.
Even though negotiations have broken down, the two sides will continue their dialogue with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service in an effort to avoid industrial action.
However, union officials feel their members have been treated with disdain, with Ashton pointing out that longshore workers had worked in difficult and hazardous conditions to keep the country safe during the pandemic.
“This was an unprecedented time in the history of the world and the longshore workers stepped up and proved that we are here to support the people of Canada. It is unfortunate that our employers hold us in such contempt,” he said.
The ILWU Canada says it remains open to meaningful negotiations to end the dispute and has called on the BCMEA to “get serious about negotiating with the union in good faith”.
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