Hundreds gather in Vancouver to support striking dockers in BC

Hundreds of people gathered in Vancouver for a rally to support striking dockers in British Columbia as their labor drive stretches into its second week.

Representatives from labor groups as far afield as Australia and New Zealand spoke at the event on Sunday in support of the strikers, who continue to push for higher wages as the cost of living rises, as well as protection from what they see as an overuse of maintenance contractors .

About 7,400 International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada members working in more than 30 BC ports have been on strike since Canada Day.

ILWU Canada Vice President Pat Bolen told the crowd that the collective agreement states “very clearly” that anything to do with moving cargo on docks or ships is the jurisdiction of the union.

“What we’re seeing now is contractors with no skin in the game coming in and stealing our lunch. What happens if someone steals your lunch? You get mad,” he said.

“We stood up and said enough is enough. This is where the line is drawn in the sand. We want our jurisdiction. We want to be cost effective, we want to be efficient, but we have to have it.”

Bolen said that while the union cannot prevent automation from being used in ports, it should be up to union members to make repairs if robots break down.

The BC Maritime Employers Association has accused the union of trying to “aggressively expand” its control over maintenance jobs well beyond what the association says has existed for decades.

Willie Adams, president of ILWU International, encouraged workers from around the world to meet ships coming to their ports and let them know that workers are united with Canadian strikers.

“They think they can get the ships to Tacoma, Seattle, Oakland, LA — won’t happen, won’t happen,” he said to loud cheers.

LOOK | What BC’s Port Strike Means for Canada:

What BC’s Port Strike Means for Canada

Workers in BC ports are on strike. We explain why it’s happening and what it means for you and for the Canadian economy.

Adams told CNBC last week that members of his union chapter on the US West Coast will not unload cargo to Canada in solidarity with striking workers in Canada.

Negotiations between the two sides, backed by federal mediators, resumed on Saturday after talks broke down on Monday. It is not yet clear when the parties will meet again.

The Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters industry group estimates that the movement of $500 million worth of goods will be disrupted each day the strike continues.

Business organizations and some politicians have called on the federal government to return to work – an idea the union has rejected.