BC’s 7,200 longshoremen are ready to quit their jobs for better pay

Vancouver – A union representing more than 7,200 longshoremen on Canada’s Pacific coast has issued a 72-hour strike notice.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU) said in a Wednesday press release that it is willing to part ways with the job on Saturday after months of negotiations British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA).

The release said the union’s main concerns are outsourcing of work, automation and wages keeping pace with the rising cost of living. They also want recognition for the work of its members to keep the port running during the pandemic.

But the employers and their bargaining agent, the BCMEA, have rewarded our hard work and dedication with demands for large concessions. “Their sole purpose is to take away the rights and conditions of dock workers after they have stuffed themselves with record profits during the pandemic.”

Earlier this month, the union voted 99.24 percent in favor of strike action. The two sides were in a cooling-off period that ended on June 21.

The BCMEA has confirmed it has received a strike notice and issued its own release, saying it is ready to “reconnect” with the union through the federal mediation process.

Among the commodities handled by ILWU loaders in BC ports are containers, forest products and bulk ores.

If the workers quit their jobs, more than 30 ports in the province could be affected.

More to come …

With files from The Canadian Press

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