Premier David Eby welcomes a tentative deal between longshore workers in British Columbia and their employers.
B次元官网网址淭he work of our ports and these workers is critical for the prosperity of everyone in our province and people across Canada,B次元官网网址� Eby said in emailed statement. B次元官网网址淭he best way to get a lasting resolution is through negotiations at the bargaining table.B次元官网网址�
About 7,400 longshore workers had been striking since July 1, impacting operations at B.C. ports, including the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Prince Rupert, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 largest and third-largest. The B.C. Maritime Employers Association Thursday morning announced that it had reached a deal with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada.
The labour dispute, which impacted all port operations except cruise ships and grain transports, caused disruptions up and down the supply chain and prompted several calls from provincial business leaders as well as Eby for its resolution. Both sides had been negotiating for months with assistance from the federal government, which has jurisdiction over ports.
The tentative deal B次元官网网址� still subject to ratification B次元官网网址� comes after federal Labour Minister Seamus OB次元官网网址橰egan had ordered a mediator to issue terms of possible settlement, saying the gap in the deadlocked talks was B次元官网网址渘ot sufficient to justify a continued work stoppage.B次元官网网址�
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OB次元官网网址橰egan said in a tweet that B次元官网网址渢he strike is overB次元官网网址� and the B次元官网网址減arties are finalizing details for the resumption of work at the ports.B次元官网网址�
Both the union and the employers had 24 hours to respond to the mediatorB次元官网网址檚 recommended terms, which both sides received yesterday.
Eby said he is optimistic that this deal will help bring long-term stability to ports in British Columbia and solidify VancouverB次元官网网址檚 as a world-class trade center while strengthening the provincial economy and provide fairness to workers.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 grateful to all parties, the workers, the employer, and the federal government for their work,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he next step is for the federal government to assemble the provinces for a First Ministers meeting on trade and community infrastructure to build on this momentum and expand our countryB次元官网网址檚 economic growth.B次元官网网址�
The strike, but also the future of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 economic infrastructure, including ports, was a major point of discussion during the recently concluded Council of Federation meeting in Winnipeg.
-with files from Canadian Press
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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