Union talks between foremen and employers continue to avoid latest strike at British Columbia port – BC News

Photo: Canadian Press

The container ship MSC Utmost VIII docks at the Port of Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, July 25, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Negotiations between British Columbia’s port employers and the union representing foremen are approaching their last scheduled day to avoid disruption.

Both the Maritime Employers Association of British Columbia and International Longshore and Warehousing Union Local 514 confirm that negotiations are ongoing with the help of federal mediation services.

The current negotiating session began on October 29 and could reportedly be extended by two days if necessary.

The union, which represents about 700 foremen at the ports, said that if negotiations fail, its members have a strike mandate that expires on November 2.

No workplace action took place and no notice of a strike or lockout was issued, but Local 514 President Frank Morena said the “clock is ticking” given the strike mandate’s expiration date.

Negotiations began last year after the last contract expired in March 2023.

In September, the union said 96 percent of its members voted to authorize a strike if necessary.

The dispute centered on one employer, DP World, and its workforce needs due to automation.

The union said it was “not interested in an industry-wide dispute” because it wanted to negotiate directly with DP World, but the Canadian Labor Relations Board said the union could not negotiate with just one employer.

The union said the decision prompted members to hold an industry-wide vote on whether to go on strike.

Earlier this month, the Canadian Labor Relations Board also ruled on complaints from both sides alleging negotiations were conducted in bad faith, dismissing the union’s claim while agreeing in part with the employers’ complaint.

The Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest, has seen a number of disruptions recently, including in September when workers picketed at six Metro Vancouver grain terminals.

The month before, port operations were disrupted by work stoppages on both major Canadian railroads.

A 13-day strike by dock workers last year froze billions of dollars of trade at the docks.