Groups representing Canadian businesses want the federal government to intervene in the ongoing labour strike at British Columbia ports, with one organization calling for legal changes that would discourage future disruptions.
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters says designating ports and rail lines as essential infrastructure and limiting when and where labour and other disruptions can occur would provide manufacturers the stability they need.
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is meanwhile asking Ottawa to B次元官网网址渦se every tool at its disposalB次元官网网址� to ensure a deal is struck to resume activity at cityB次元官网网址檚 port, including back-to-work legislation, if necessary.
The strike of more than 7,000 workers at ports across the province is in its fourth day after talks between the two sides stalled on Monday.
Representatives for the BC Maritime Employers Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada negotiated over the long weekend, before the association issued a statement saying it didnB次元官网网址檛 think more bargaining would produce a deal.
The association said Tuesday that negotiations were B次元官网网址減aused, pending further discussion with the federal mediators.B次元官网网址�
The union has meanwhile accused the association of changing its position on a key issue at the last minute to B次元官网网址渕uddy the waters.B次元官网网址�
Federal Labour Minister Seamus OB次元官网网址橰egan said in a Tweet that federal mediators B次元官网网址渃ontinue to supportB次元官网网址� both sides in the negotiations.
B次元官网网址淲e encourage both parties to immediately return to the bargaining table and remain there until a deal is reached,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淐ollective bargaining is hard work but itB次元官网网址檚 how the best, most resilient deals are made.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址 of a strike at the ports, including CanadaB次元官网网址檚 largest, the Port of Vancouver, has led many business groups to raise red flags, suggesting job action would have far-reaching implications for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 economy.
B次元官网网址淎 strike of this magnitude not only disrupts the Canadian economy but damages our global trading reputation, hurts already fragile supply chains, and puts jobs at risk,B次元官网网址� Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters said in a statement Tuesday.
B次元官网网址淕iven that the federal government understands what is at stake, (Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters) urges them to intervene now to reassure manufacturers that they will not bear the brunt of a labour dispute that is beyond their control,B次元官网网址� it said.
The group, which says its members account for about 82 per cent of total manufacturing production and 90 per cent of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 exports, estimates that $500 million worth of goods is being disrupted every day.
READ ALSO:
