News
Last Friday, 77.64% of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU Canada) members voted in favor of the new labor contract on which the union reached a tentative agreement on July 31 with the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA), paving the way for the ratification of the four-year deal. However, neither the ILWU nor the BCMEA have disclosed wage levels or how the two sides were able to move through an impasse over expanding job jurisdiction.
Their previous labor contract expired at the end of March. The ILWU Canada and the BCMEA held rounds of negotiations but failed to reach an agreement. Several strikes were staged in and after late June, causing congestion and cargo pileups at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert and urging the government of Canada to make enhanced efforts toward an intervention. Although concerns have been addressed over another strike, it is estimated that several more weeks are needed for the ports to eliminate backlogs and other problems to return to normal.
