Close X
Thursday, November 7, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. ports shuttered as lockout takes hold in latest labour dispute

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Nov, 2024 11:53 AM
  • B.C. ports shuttered as lockout takes hold in latest labour dispute

One of Canada's most vital trade arteries is cut off as employers at most of British Columbia's ports lock out their workers in a dispute involving about 700 unionized foremen. 

The BC Maritime Employers Association says it defensively locked out members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 after the union began strike activity yesterday.

However, union president Frank Morena says the employers grossly overreacted to the union's original plan for an overtime ban, adding that its negotiators are ready to re-engage in talks at any time.

Canadian political and business leaders have expressed concern with another work stoppage at the ports, after job action from the big railways earlier this year and a 13-day strike in a separate labour dispute last year.

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade says it is relaunching its Port Shutdown Calculator, a tool to illustrate the economic damage caused by the labour dispute and introduced during the job action last year. 

Board president Bridgitte Anderson says the latest port shutdown will disrupt $800 million worth of goods daily, with every hour of the closure fuelling inflation.

"This shutdown is the latest in a long line of highly damaging labour disputes that have hurt Canada’s economy and international reputation," Anderson says.

"Through the Port Shutdown Calculator, we want to demonstrate the profound and escalating impact of this labour dispute." 

The employers and the workers represented by Local 514 have been without a contract since March 2023.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. to scrap carbon tax if federal government drops requirement: Eby

B.C. to scrap carbon tax if federal government drops requirement: Eby
British Columbia Premier David Eby says his government would end the carbon tax on consumers if the federal government removed the legal requirement. Eby says B.C. residents are struggling with affordability, but the government would still ensure that big polluters pay a price for carbon to take action on climate change. 

B.C. to scrap carbon tax if federal government drops requirement: Eby

Singh says NDP drafting climate plan, won't say if it'll include consumer carbon tax

Singh says NDP drafting climate plan, won't say if it'll include consumer carbon tax
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh won't say whether he would keep the consumer carbon price if his party forms government at the next election. Speaking to reporters in Montreal on Thursday, Singh criticized both the Liberals and the Conservatives over their approaches to fighting climate change. 

Singh says NDP drafting climate plan, won't say if it'll include consumer carbon tax

Canada's consul general in New York at House committee today about official residence

Canada's consul general in New York at House committee today about official residence
Canada's consul general in New York is meeting with MPs today to talk about the purchase of his official residence. Former CTV journalist Tom Clark is answering questions at the House operations committee which is studying the government's decision to buy a $9-million condo in Manhattan.

Canada's consul general in New York at House committee today about official residence

Air Canada pushing for government intervention as clock ticks on labour talks

Air Canada pushing for government intervention as clock ticks on labour talks
Air Canada and business leaders are asking Ottawa to be ready to intervene in labour talks with its pilots as time is running out before a potential shutdown, but so far the government has said the two sides need to work things out.  Airline spokesman Christophe Hennebelle said Thursday that Air Canada is committed to negotiations, but it faces wage demands from the Air Line Pilots Association that it can't meet. 

Air Canada pushing for government intervention as clock ticks on labour talks

Documents show dozens of harassment, violence cases at CSIS. It deemed only 8 founded

Documents show dozens of harassment, violence cases at CSIS. It deemed only 8 founded
When Canada's spy chief wrote a secret letter to the public safety minister last December — the week after a report emerged that two young women in the service had been sexually assaulted by a senior colleague — it came with a warning. David Vigneault, then director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, told Dominic LeBlanc that he expected "more cases to surface in the coming weeks," and that he had to be "transparent" about this with the minister 

Documents show dozens of harassment, violence cases at CSIS. It deemed only 8 founded

RCMP investigating body found by rural road near Calgary after fire

RCMP investigating body found by rural road near Calgary after fire
RCMP say they've put significant resources toward investigating the death of a person found after they responded to a fire by a rural road east of Calgary. Mounties were called early on Wednesday morning to a report of a fire on the side of a rural road in Rocky View County.

RCMP investigating body found by rural road near Calgary after fire