Business and government are responding favourably to a possible breakthrough in the 12-day strike that has shut down all ports along the British Columbia coast.

Labour Minister Seamus OB次元官网网址橰egan has given a federal mediator 24 hours to send him recommendations to end the dispute between the BC Maritime Employers Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada.

OB次元官网网址橰egan will forward the recommendations to the two sides and says theyB次元官网网址檒l have a further 24 hours to decide whether to ratify them.

A statement from Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, says his organization welcomes the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 action.

Alberta premier Danielle Smith said in a tweet Tuesday night that she appreciates OB次元官网网址橰eganB次元官网网址檚 efforts to end the strike and hopes for a resolution within 48 hours.

The union and employers association have not commented on the ministerB次元官网网址檚 intervention, although the association confirmed the notice from OB次元官网网址橰eganB次元官网网址檚 office arrived late Tuesday afternoon, potentially starting the 24-hour clock.

About 7,400 dock workers have been on strike since July 1, halting cargo in and out of more than 30 ports in B.C., including Vancouver, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 busiest port.

Pickets remained at B.C. ports Wednesday and, although BeattyB次元官网网址檚 statement expressed approval of OB次元官网网址橰eganB次元官网网址檚 action, it was also terse.

B次元官网网址淲e have been calling for immediate intervention from the federal government and urge them to ensure they pursue a course of action that brings an end to this strike as swiftly as possible, preventing further impacts on Canadian families, Canadian businesses, and the Canadian economy,B次元官网网址� Beatty said in the release.

The call for recommendations from the federal mediator brought a stern reaction from the United Truckers Association.

B次元官网网址淭he UTA is warning the federal government of potential escalation of disruption should they consider any kind of imposition of settlement,B次元官网网址� the association said in a news release.

Spokesman Gagan Singh said the associationB次元官网网址檚 members B次元官网网址渃ontinue to sufferB次元官网网址� from what he called the failure of the federal government to fulfil the commitments of an imposed settlement in 2014 and he warned OB次元官网网址橰egan B次元官网网址渘ot to make the same mistake.B次元官网网址�

OB次元官网网址橰egan ordered the federal mediator to submit recommendations, saying the gap between the positions of the BC Maritime Employers Association and the longshore union is B次元官网网址渘ot sufficient to justify a continued work stoppage.B次元官网网址�

A good deal is B次元官网网址渨ithin reachB次元官网网址� for both the union and the BC Maritime Employers Association, he said, adding it was in the interests of all sides that an agreement is reached as soon as possible.

B次元官网网址淭he scale of this disruption shows how important the relationship between the BCMEA and the ILWU is to our national interest,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橰egan said in the statement shared on Twitter.

B次元官网网址淲e cannot allow this work stoppage to persist and risk further damage to the relationship between these parties.B次元官网网址�

The union has said key issues include improved wages, jurisdiction over maintenance and protections against contracting out and automation.

READ ALSO: