Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Uncertainty at B.C. ports continues as possible deal emerges in labour dispute

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Jul, 2023 09:49 AM
  • Uncertainty at B.C. ports continues as possible deal emerges in labour dispute

The uncertainty at British Columbia ports persists as a union local for workers says that a tentative agreement has been reached between a union bargaining committee and employers, the latest development in a tumultuous week in the high-stakes labour dispute.

A statement on the website of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada Local 502 says that a tentative agreement has been reached with the BC Maritime Employers Association, and the ILWU will hold an "emergency contract caucus" today to decide if the deal will be sent to the full union membership for ratification.

Neither the ILWU nor the BCMEA confirmed the latest development.

Meanwhile, work resumed in Vancouver at Canada's largest port on Thursday as ILWU returned on the job across the province after brief strike action on Tuesday.

This follows a week in the labour dispute that saw the union voting down a federal mediator's terms, the union issuing but quickly rescinding a new 72-hour strike notice, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convening the federal incident response group.

The union had rejected a previous tentative deal brokered by a federal mediator that would have ended the dispute, which already caused a 13-day work stoppage at B.C. ports earlier this month.

Workers went back to their jobs this week after the Canada Industrial Relations Board ruled the brief strike on Tuesday was illegal because 72 hours' notice had not been given.

Mark Thompson, University of British Columbia professor emeritus at the Sauder school of business, says while port strikes were common in the 1980s and 1990s, they weren't allowed to drag on, unlike the latest dispute. 

"The government (today) is very reluctant to enact back-to-work legislation, so we are in uncharted territory right now," he said.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was unacceptable that the union rejected the tentative deal worked out with a mediator that had been agreed to by both sides. 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Jobless rate went up in June

Jobless rate went up in June
R-B-C assistant chief economist Nathan Janzen says the reason the unemployment rate can rise alongside historically strong employment growth is that population growth continues to set new records, including an increase of 84-thousand people in June.

Jobless rate went up in June

Lack of staff forces Saanich hospital to close ER overnight for two months

Lack of staff forces Saanich hospital to close ER overnight for two months
Island Health says a lack of staff has forced it to begin overnight closures of the emergency room at a small Victoria-area hospital. A statement from the health authority says closure of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital emergency department begins at 10 p.m. tonight and will end at 7 a.m. Saturday.

Lack of staff forces Saanich hospital to close ER overnight for two months

BC Port strike now a week long

BC Port strike now a week long
The association says it has learned of the layoffs as well as cargo diversions as the labour dispute drags on, calling on the International Longshore and Warehouse Union to enter a voluntary arbitration process to end the strike.  

BC Port strike now a week long

Airbnb wins Vancouver privacy ruling, as court quashes order to release host data

Airbnb wins Vancouver privacy ruling, as court quashes order to release host data
Justice Jasvinder Basran's ruling says the privacy commissioner must reconsider its findings after notifying Airbnb hosts about the potential release of the information.

Airbnb wins Vancouver privacy ruling, as court quashes order to release host data

Ministerial adviser, Gurveen Dhaliwal, won't be charged in election rule violation probe

Ministerial adviser, Gurveen Dhaliwal, won't be charged in election rule violation probe
The service had tapped a special prosecutor in May to give legal advice on the investigation of Gurveen Dhaliwal, who served as a trustee in New Westminster before being named as an adviser to Health Minister Adrian Dix on May 1. The investigation stemmed from Dhaliwal's presence as a scrutineer during the same election last November in which she was running for a second term.

Ministerial adviser, Gurveen Dhaliwal, won't be charged in election rule violation probe

Run Surrey Run 2023 takes place Sept 8-10

Run Surrey Run 2023 takes place Sept 8-10
Just before the rains kickstart again in September take advantage of the sunshine and go for a jog or 5K & 10K run and lace up. The road race is taking place on September 10th. The virtual race is gonna take place from Sept 8-Sept 10th, 2023. 

Run Surrey Run 2023 takes place Sept 8-10