Canadian dockworkers union and employers agree negotiated labour deal

“The International Longshore and Warehouse Canada (ILWU Canada) and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) have concluded a negotiated collective agreement today with the assistance of the Canada Industrial Relations Board,” BCMEA said in a statement.

It said the negotiated settlement would be recommended to member employers.

ILWU Canada said, “The ILWU Canada Longshore bargaining committee is happy to announce that we have secured a negotiated tentative settlement with the BCMEA. This will be presented to our members as per our constitution.”

The rejection of the previous recommended settlement by union members had raised the spectre of renewed strikes at ports in British Columbia. A 13-day strike at the start of July at ports on Canada’s west coast including Vancouver and Prince Rupert disrupted billions of dollars-worth of trade.

Unions and employers have been trying to negotiate a new four-year collective bargaining agreement since February this year.

Following the rejection of the recommended settlement by union members Canada’ Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan threatened that the government could impose a settlement. He had directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to determine if the union member’s rejection of a recommended settlement had eliminated the possibility of a negotiated settlement, in which case a new collective bargaining agreement might have been imposed.

Related:Canadian dockworkers vote no to settlement, govt threatens to impose deal