The president of the BC Chamber of Commerce Wednesday (July 5) has joined the chorus of business leaders calling for a speedy resolution of the strike affecting more than 30 B.C. ports, including the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Prince Rupert.
Fiona Famulak, president and chief executive of the BC Chamber of Commerce, called on International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the BC Maritime Employers Association to resume negotiations.
B次元官网网址淭he continued shutdown of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 busiest and third busiest ports, where as much as $800 million worth of cargo is moved daily, is untenable,B次元官网网址� Famulak said. B次元官网网址淓very day the job action remains unresolved increases impacts on Canadians, businesses and our economy. Without swift resolution, this strike will become dire for every organization that relies on international supply chains to produce, supply and sell goods or services.B次元官网网址�
Famulak also addressed her appeal to the federal government, which has been working with both sides through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
B次元官网网址淚f negotiations do not bring resolution to the labour action, the federal government must act with urgency to facilitate an end to the strike,B次元官网网址� she said.
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FamulakB次元官网网址檚 appeal is the latest in a series of appeals from leading business organizations inside and outside of British Columbia.
More than 7,000 workers went on strike Saturday night following months of negotiations, which have gone from difficult to non-existent.
BCMEA issued a statement on Monday (July 3) that B次元官网网址渁 continuation of bargaining at this time is not going to produce a collective agreementB次元官网网址� in calling on ILWU to change course. B次元官网网址淩ather than work towards an equitable deal, ILWU Canada seems to have entrenched their positions,B次元官网网址� it reads. B次元官网网址淭he BCMEA has gone as far as possible on core issues.B次元官网网址�
ILWU responded on Tuesday (July 4) by saying that BCMEA is B次元官网网址渄eaf to the real and legitimate concerns of the (union)B次元官网网址� in accusing BCMEA of misrepresenting the unionB次元官网网址檚 position on the question of who gets to do maintenance work.
BCMEA has said that ILWU wants to expand the scope and definition of maintenance work while ILWU has accused employers of failing to properly use union members.
ILWU also used its statement called on BCMEA to return to the bargaining table, while also proposing to meet directly with employers.
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Transportation Rob Fleming said during an unrelated event in Greater Victoria Tuesday (July 4) that the issue is a federal one, adding that the provincial government had hoped that both sides would have reached an agreement.
B次元官网网址淭his disruption is huge to a number of economic sectors in B.C.,B次元官网网址� he said. He praised both sides for excluding cruise ship and grain traffic from the dispute, but expressed hope that the dispute would be resolved as quickly as possible.
Federal Labour Minister Seamus OB次元官网网址橰egan said Tuesday on social media that federal mediators continue to support BCMEA and ILWU in their 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�
The Port of Vancouver is CanadaB次元官网网址檚 largest, home to 29 terminals operating in 16 municipalities across Metro Vancouver. According to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the responsible federal agency, the port handles $1 of every $3 of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 trade outside of North America. As a gate to 170 countries, the port sustains 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada.
Here are some key facts in the dispute:
* The union represents workers who load and unload cargo at terminals at more than 30 B.C. ports, including CanadaB次元官网网址檚 busiest, the Port of Vancouver.
* The association represents 49 private-sector employers and its website says the industry contributes $2.7 billion to CanadaB次元官网网址檚 GDP while handling roughly 16 per cent of the countryB次元官网网址檚 total traded goods.
* The unionB次元官网网址檚 previous contract expired at the end of March after negotiations aimed at reaching a new deal began in February.
* In early June, union members voted 99.24 per cent in favour of authorizing strike action if required.
* Workers walked off the job Saturday and contract talks stalled Monday, with the union saying the employers had changed their position on a key issue.
* A statement from the union on Tuesday said the key issue holding up a deal is the contracting out of maintenance work by employers. It said the employersB次元官网网址� association and its member companies had refused to agree on a regular maintenance document that is complete except for one sentence.
* The employersB次元官网网址� association said Monday that it didnB次元官网网址檛 believe more bargaining would produce a deal and said the union was being unreasonable when it came to compensation.
* The union has previously said contracting out, port automation and the cost of living are key issues in the dispute.
B次元官网网址� The Canadian Press
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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