A labour researcher says he hopes the federal government doesnB次元官网网址檛 rush to intervene in British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 port dispute, even if union members reject a tentative deal with employers today.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada concludes the two-day vote at 6 p.m., after a tumultuous period that included a 13-day shutdown of more than 30 port terminals and other sites last month.

McGill University associate professor Barry Eidlin says he hopes the federal government lets the dispute be resolved at the negotiating table, regardless of the voteB次元官网网址檚 outcome.

He says the prospect of federal intervention represents B次元官网网址渂acksliding to a past eraB次元官网网址� when workersB次元官网网址� fundamental rights werenB次元官网网址檛 respected.

The tentative contract between the union and the BC Maritime Employers Association was announced on Sunday, a day after federal Labour Minister Seamus OB次元官网网址橰egan directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to impose a deal or binding arbitration if it decides a negotiated resolution isnB次元官网网址檛 possible.

Union leaders say workersB次元官网网址� key concerns relate to automation and the contracting out of maintenance work, both of which present fundamental challenges to the future of port jobs.

The strike from July 1 to 13 ended when a previous tentative deal was struck, but union members rejected it in a vote on July 28, triggering OB次元官网网址橰eganB次元官网网址檚 order for the industrial relations board to get involved.

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