Cargo loaders at B.C.’s ports vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike

More than 7,000 terminal cargo loaders at British Columbia ports overwhelmingly support strike action against local maritime employers, though both sides are still negotiating to avoid such an outcome .

The International Ports and Warehouses Union of Canada announced a weekend poll showed 99.24 percent support for strike action against the BC Maritime Employers Association “if needed”.

The strike vote will give freight forwarders more leverage in negotiations with employers, and if negotiations do not progress, unions will be notified 72 hours in advance of a strike that could begin on June 24. can be submitted.

The Greater Vancouver Trade Commission said in a statement that the strike will continue in British Columbia given that supply chains have already been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent climate-related disasters such as devastating floods. He said it could severely impact both the provincial and Canadian economies. 2021 years.

Board Chairman Bridget Anderson said supply chain stability was “crucial to Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner” and that all parties involved in labor negotiations should seek a “fair settlement” to avoid further disruption. “We need to reach a policy,” he said.

The two sides are currently in a cooling-off period until June 21st and are expected to continue negotiations this week after their previous contract expired on March 30th.

The U.S. side of the union is holding its own talks, leading to disruptions in ports along the West Coast, including Los Angeles.

According to the B.C. Maritime Employers Association website, the industry contributes $2.7 billion to Canada’s GDP, with total trade reaching $180 billion in 2020, or about 16 percent of the country’s total traded goods. It is said that there is