A 13-day strike that disrupted shipments at Canada’s western ports is set to end after the dockworkers’ union and a group of employers agreed on a tentative deal.
The International Longshore & Warehouse Union, representing more than 7,000 workers, and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association reached an agreement on a new four-year deal, according to a statement on Thursday. The parties didn’t release details.
The agreement paves the way for an end of the work stoppage at ports in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, the country’s busiest and third-busiest hubs. The employers group said operations are expected to resume as soon as possible.
The strike at ports that handle about a quarter of Canada’s total traded goods reduced arrivals of container ships and diverted vessels to US facilities — impeding imports of materials for manufacturing as well as exports of natural resources like potash.
“The scale of this disruption has been significant. The extent of it has shown just how important the relationship between industry and labour is to our national interest. We do not want to be back here again,” Canada’s Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in a joint statement.
Manufacturers and exporters trade groups in the country estimated the strike caused daily trade disruptions amounting to C$500 million (US380 million).
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce warned the disruptions could fuel inflation.
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