The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) has received confirmation over the weekend that International Labour and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU Canada) voting membership have ratified the four-year negotiated tentative agreement that was achieved with the assistance of the Canada Industrial Relations Board earlier this week. The BCMEA ratified the agreement on July 31st. The agreement was reached after five months of negotiations, conciliation and mediation, and five weeks of labour instability at B.C.’s ports.
The renewed collective agreement includes increases in wages, benefits and training that recognizes the skills and efforts of B.C.’s waterfront workforce, while providing certainty and stability for the future of Canada’s West Coast ports.