VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The government agency charged with settling British Columbia’s port labor dispute has warned the union representing dock workers that failing to ratify a new tentative agreement would be an “unfair labor practice.”
The Canadian Press reports the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and BC Maritime Employees Association reached a new deal late Sunday with the assistance of the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The board subsequently issued its warning about the union changing its mind on the new agreement; ordered the ILWU to hold a ratification vote by Friday; and restricted either side from commenting beyond their joint statement announcing a new tentative deal.
The ILWU twice rejected a previous tentative deal that ended a 13-day strike by the dock workers. After that agreement was considered and voted down for a second time on July 28, Canadian Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan said he had directed the industrial relations board to impose a settlement or binding arbitration if it determined “there can no longer be a negotiated settlement” [see “Canadian government set to intervene …,” Trains News Wire, July 29, 2023].
The dispute covers 30 ports in British Columbia, including Vancouver and Prince Rupert, the first and third busiest in Canada. Railroads took a major traffic hit from the earlier strike.
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