B.C. ports in limbo as union removes strike notice

The union representing about 7,400 port workers in B.C. withdrew plans to resume their strike this weekend as the federal government weighs its options to resolve the labour dispute that has threatened supply chains across the country.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada said in a statement late Wednesday that it had “removed” the 72-hour strike notice it issued earlier, but gave no reasons or details behind the decision.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped up Ottawa’s response to B.C. ports potentially shutting down again, convening an incident response group meeting and asking ministers and senior officials to pursue all available options.

Trudeau also spoke with B.C. Premier David Eby about the labour dispute between the union and the BC Maritime Employers Association and agreed on the need to “ensure the stability” of national supply chains.

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The union initially relaunched its strike on Tuesday after announcing its caucus had rejected a tentative deal reached last week, but removed picket lines and returned to work after the Canadian Industrial Relations Board ruled the workers needed to give 72-hour notice for the strike to be legal.

The strike originally started on July 1 and ran for 13 days, shutting down or severely disrupting operations at the more than 30 B.C. port terminals and other sites where union members work — including Vancouver, the country’s largest port.

Speaking Wednesday, Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra is not giving a clear answer on whether the federal government is willing to impose back-to-work legislation if the workers go back on strike.

He’s only stressing he wants to see the workers and their employer negotiate a new deal.

“That is the ideal outcome. A deal to be reached by [both parties] and we thought there was a tentative agreement that they reached last Thursday. I still don’t know what happened a couple of days ago, but now I’m relieved to hear that the strike notice has been lifted. And now they’re back at work and I’m hoping we can proceed,” he said.

It has been a dramatic few days, with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada shocking many when it announced its leaders did not approve the initial tentative deal put together by a mediator.

“Our government is fundamentally … supporters of the workers’ ability to organize and negotiate on behalf of their members to reach a deal,” Alghabra said.

–With files from Dean Recksiedler and Martin MacMahon