Negotiations between British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 port employers and the union representing foremen are entering a final scheduled day in a bid to avoid a labour disruption.
Both the BC Maritime Employers Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 confirm talks are ongoing with the help of federal mediation services.
The current negotiation session began on Oct. 29 and was said to be extendable by two days, if necessary.
The union, which represents about 700 foremen at the ports, has said if talks break down it has a mandate from members to strike that expires on Nov. 2.
No job action has taken place and no notices of strike or lockout have been issued, but Local 514 president Frank Morena has said B次元官网网址渢he clock is tickingB次元官网网址� given the strike mandateB次元官网网址檚 expiring date.
Negotiations began last year after the last contract expired in March 2023.
The union said in September that members voted 96 per cent in favour of authorizing strike action if necessary.
The dispute has been centred around one employer, DP World, and its manpower requirements as it relates to automation.
The union has said it had B次元官网网址渘o interest in an industry-wide disputeB次元官网网址� because it wanted to negotiate with DP World directly, but the Canada Industrial Relations Board said the union canB次元官网网址檛 bargain with one employer alone.
The union said that ruling prompted members to take an industry-wide vote on a strike mandate.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board also ruled earlier this month on complaints from both sides alleging negotiating in bad faith, dismissing the unionB次元官网网址檚 claim, while partly agreeing with the employersB次元官网网址� complaint.
VancouverB次元官网网址檚 port B次元官网网址� the largest in Canada B次元官网网址� has seen a number of recent disruptions, including in September when workers set up pickets at six Metro Vancouver grain terminals.
A month before that, port operations were disrupted by work stoppages at both major Canadian railways.
A 13-day port workers strike last year froze billions in trade at the docks.
