ILWU Canada members vote to strike

International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada members last week voted to strike against member companies of the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA).

The vote held June 9-10 showed 99.24% of members favor a strike action, according to an ILWU Canada bulletin. The union represents more than 7,400 longshore workers on the Canadian West Coast.

The workers’ contract expired March 31, according to the BCMEA website. The union and association have agreed that no 72-hour strike or lockout notice will be filed before June 21; the earliest either party can take action is June 24 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific time.

“The BCMEA remains committed to bargaining in good faith and seeking a fair and balanced deal that recognizes the expertise of the waterfront workforce, while ensuring West Coast ports remain competitive, resilient and affordable for all Canadians,” BCMEA officials said in a press release.

Two mediators have been appointed by the Canadian government to oversee negotiations, which started with the Federal Maritime Employers Association March 28, CNBC reported.

The 49 BCMEA member companies — who are ship owners and agents, stevedores and container/bulkbreak terminal operators — are primarily based at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

Canada’s West Coast ports handle about CA$225 billion worth of cargo every year, with many consumer products — from apparel to electronics to home goods — transported by rail, according to CNBC. CN, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and BNSF Railway Co. serve the ports.