B.C. premier ‘worried’ about potential port strike impacts

Premier David Eby says he is “profoundly worried” about the potential impact of a port strike in the province.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWUC) has been in talks with the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association since February, with the collective agreement between the two expiring at the end of March.

Eby says people have seen rising costs due to inflation and supply chain issues and a strike potentially increasing them more is something residents cannot afford.

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Read more:

• B.C. port workers union issues strike notice

• B.C. port strike could increase cost of goods for consumers: GVBoT

• B.C. port cargo loaders approve strike, but talks continue with maritime employers

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The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada issued a 72-hour strike notice and said its members were ready to walk out on Saturday.

The union has been seeking “a fair deal that respects longshore workers.” Some main objectives include an end to contracted work, protection from automation, and better wages.

The notice affects about 7,400 terminal cargo loaders and 49 of the province’s waterfront employers at more than 30 ports.

If a deal is not struck before the strike deadline, workers will walk off the job at 8 a.m. on July 1.

With files from Greg Bowman