Global Courant
Vancouver
Talks to end a strike in British Columbia ports have stalled, with both sides accusing the other of being unreasonable.
The BC Maritime Employers Association released a statement Monday afternoon saying it has gone as far as possible on core issues and does not believe more negotiations will lead to a collective agreement.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, which represents thousands of workers who load and unload cargo at terminals in more than 30 BC ports, says it’s the union that “sabotaged progress.”
Thousands of union members left work on Saturday morning. Both sides negotiated over the weekend and sat down at the table earlier in the day on Monday.
The association said it has put forward “reasonable proposals and good faith views” but said the union refuses to budge.
“ILWU Canada went on strike over demands that were and remain beyond any reasonable framework for settlement. In view of the foregoing, the BCMEA believes that a continuation of negotiations will not result in a collective agreement at this time,” the statement said.
“ILWU Canada must decide whether to continue this strike with no hope of a settlement, or to significantly change their stance so that a fair and balanced deal can be reached.”
A major stumbling block appears to be around maintenance work, with the association accusing the union of trying to change the definitions and “aggressively expand their scope”. Union president Rob Ashton said ILWU Canada is focused on stopping “the erosion of jurisdiction” and the expanded use of contractors.
“When we finally had a document that was largely agreed upon as a result of continued movement by the union on this one position, the association decided to change their position in an attempt to muddy the waters and mischaracterize the work, we spent months discussed,” Ashton said in a statement.
Ashton said it’s fair that workers, who he says contributed to record profits during the pandemic, get a fair and equitable share from them.
The strike prompted business organizations to issue warnings about far-reaching implications across the country, with some urging the federal government to step in with legislation to get back to work.
The union, meanwhile, warned Ottawa not to intervene.
“We implore the BCMEA to return to the table to reach a fair and reasonable agreement that the parties will negotiate together,” Ashton said in his statement.
“It is unrealistic to think that an imposed collective agreement will lead to long-term labor stability in the industry. The parties must do their best for the whole country and not just for their individual goals.”
Federal Labor Secretary Seamus O’Regan has said the focus of the negotiations “must be on the table”.
The association represents 49 private sector employers operating in BC’s ports, and its website states that the industry contributes $2.7 billion to Canada’s GDP while accounting for about 16 percent of total traded goods. of the country – amounting to $180 billion by 2020.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 3, 2023.
