The results of the strike vote held on June 9-10 show “99.24% in favour of supporting strike action against the member companies of the BC Maritime Employers Association if necessary,” today announced Bob Ashton, President of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada. The ILWU represents more than 7,000 dock workers in British Columbia, including those working at the major ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert.
However, the soonest any strike action or lockout could happen would be on June 24 in the wake of a 72-hour notice that would be given at the June 21 termination of a “cooling off” period mandated by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
According to a statement from the BCMEA, another bargaining session is to take place tomorrow (June 13) under the supervision of a federal mediator.
The existing five-year ILWU contract with the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) expired at the end of March. Among other issues, Canadian West Coast dockworkers are seeking significant wage increases amidst the prospect of greater automation of cargo-handling equipment under planned expansions of container terminal capacities.
(Photo from Port of Vancouver)
