Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan says port workers strike illegal

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Jul, 2023 10:01 AM
  • Federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan says port workers strike illegal

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan said a strike by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada is "illegal" in remarks that came after a ruling by the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

In a tweet, O'Regan said Wednesday the board ordered that the union cease and desist any strike activity because it did not provide 72 hours notice.

The strike that has shut down British Columbia's ports resumed Tuesday after the longshore workers union rejected a tentative mediated deal.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada says "employers have not addressed the cost of living issues" faced by workers in the last few years.

The tentative four-year deal that was rejected had been proposed by a federal mediator at the instruction of O'Regan.  

In a joint statement earlier in the day, O'Regan and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said that workers and employers across Canada cannot face further disruption and that they were looking at all options.

The ministers said they have been patient and respected the collective bargaining process, but they need the ports operating.

"The deal presented to the parties was the result of a constructive and substantive collective bargaining process," the ministers said in their statement.

"It represented a fair and balanced deal. It was informed by weeks of collective bargaining and drafted by third-party mediators in the interest of both the union and the employer."

The strike froze billions of dollars worth of cargo from moving in and out of harbours, including at Canada's busiest port in Vancouver.

The BC Maritime Employers Association said the union rejected the deal without sending it to a full membership vote.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must end the strike immediately because of the massive cost to workers, consumers and businesses.

"We're calling on him to deliver a plan to end this strike within the next 24 hours," Poilievre said.

Meanwhile, NDP transport critic Taylor Bachrach said it’s a part of union bargaining rights to be able to reject an agreement.

"We know that their team is ready to get back to the table right away and we encourage other parties to do the same," Bachrach said.

"We are also renewing our call for the federal government to support the collective bargaining process, rather than resorting to the sort of back-to-work legislation that Liberal and Conservative governments have imposed far too often."

The decision by the union was met by calls for Ottawa to pass back-to-work legislation to end the strike from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

"The 13-day strike had already done significant damage to small businesses across the country and Canada’s international reputation as a dependable trading partner," CFIB executive vice-president Corinne Pohlmann said in a statement.

"To let it carry on any further is negligent and will amplify disruptions of the supply chain."

Robin Guy, vice-president and deputy leader, government relations, at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said further delay will cause the Canadian economy more harm.

"We’re calling on the government and all parties to agree to reconvene parliament and pass back to work legislation immediately," Guy said.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Surrey weekend car crash kills 2 people

Surrey weekend car crash kills 2 people
Surrey R-C-M-P say the crash happened early Sunday, when a Volkswagen collided with a Hyundai sedan while both were northbound on 176 Street near 32 Avenue. Police say the crash sent both cars into a water-filled ditch beside the road, and two people in the Hyundai have died while two others from the same vehicle are injured, one critically.

Surrey weekend car crash kills 2 people

Targeted shooting in Burnaby leaves 1 injured

Targeted shooting in Burnaby leaves 1 injured
The incident is believed to have occurred inside a parked vehicle near Halifax Street and Woodway Place in Burnaby around 2 p.m. No victims, suspects, or related vehicles were on scene when police arrived. However, the victim, a 20-year-old-man, was treated in hospital for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds after seeking medical care.

Targeted shooting in Burnaby leaves 1 injured

2 bystanders being praised for quick action in preventing stabbing

2 bystanders being praised for quick action in preventing stabbing
Mounties are praising two bystanders in Kelowna who jumped into action and disarmed a man who allegedly stabbed a woman at a bus station. Mounties say two "good samaritans" were physically detaining the suspect when an officer arrived to arrest the man.  

2 bystanders being praised for quick action in preventing stabbing

Vancouver needs a 9% annual property tax hike to maintain its fiscal outlook

Vancouver needs a 9% annual property tax hike to maintain its fiscal outlook
The report says the outlook for operating expenditures is driven by factors, including higher fixed costs to provide existing service levels, the renewal of infrastructure and public amenities, Metro Vancouver levies, and the implementation of key initiatives from the 2023 budget, such as the hiring of additional police officers.'

Vancouver needs a 9% annual property tax hike to maintain its fiscal outlook

B.C. warns of summer drought, asks people to conserve water

B.C. warns of summer drought, asks people to conserve water
A statement from the Forests Ministry says recent rains have provided some relief in parts of B.C., but it hasn't been enough to make up the deficit. B.C.'s drought map shows much of the northeastern corner of the province is at drought level four on the five-level scale, meaning conditions are extremely dry with communities and ecosystems likely to experience adverse impacts.

B.C. warns of summer drought, asks people to conserve water

Reign of world's largest hockey stick coming to an end as Duncan holds survey

Reign of world's largest hockey stick coming to an end as Duncan holds survey
The 28,118-kilogram stick was built to mark the entrance to the Canada pavilion at Vancouver's Expo in 1986, but 37 years later the Cowichan Valley Regional District said it is coming to "the end of its life."  

Reign of world's largest hockey stick coming to an end as Duncan holds survey