British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 ports may again be disrupted by a labour dispute, as employers say they have received 72-hour strike notice from the union representing foremen.

The BC Maritime Employers Association said in a statement on Thursday that it is B次元官网网址渄eeply disappointedB次元官网网址� after the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 has issued the strike notice despite the employersB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渇inal offerB次元官网网址� presented on Wednesday.

B次元官网网址淭he BCMEA has advanced proposals in good faith to reach a balanced agreement that is beneficial for the 730 hard-working forepersons and for their families, while also ensuring West Coast ports remain reliable, competitive and affordable for all Canadians,B次元官网网址� the statement said.

B次元官网网址淭he BCMEA and its members will be considering next steps,B次元官网网址� the statement concluded.

The union said in a statement Thursday evening the employers threatened a B次元官网网址渇ull-scale lockout to close all B.C. portsB次元官网网址� after it served 72-hour notice of limited job action.

Frank Morena, president of ILWU Local 514, said in the statement that the union told the employers association it would enact an overtime ban and refuse to implement tech change starting Monday unless a new collective agreement is reached by then.

B次元官网网址淲e are prepared to resume negotiations immediately,B次元官网网址� he added.

The two sides had been negotiating with the help of a federal mediator over three days this week to avoid the latest work stoppage, which would affect all ports in B.C.

Employers said that if the union takes strike action, it would begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 4.

The strike would be the latest in a number of labour disruptions at the Port of Vancouver, the largest port in Canada.

In September, workers set up pickets at six Metro Vancouver grain terminals for several days before a tentative deal was reached.

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.

The foremenB次元官网网址檚 union said in September that members voted 96 per cent in favour of 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.

As the two sides entered negotiations this week, Morena said B次元官网网址渢he clock is ticking,B次元官网网址� referring to the unionB次元官网网址檚 strike mandate that expires on Nov. 2.

B次元官网网址淚LWU Local 514 wants to see a new contract, not a strike or lockout, and has done everything possible to negotiate at the table B次元官网网址� not through the media, as BCMEA has attempted to do,B次元官网网址� Morena said before talks restarted on Tuesday.

Earlier on Thursday, the employers said they believed their latest offer would B次元官网网址渃onclude negotiations in a manner that serves the best interestB次元官网网址� of all parties involved.

Negotiations began last year after the last contract expired in March 2023.

On Oct. 23, the Canada Industrial Relations Board ruled 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.

The union has said it B次元官网网址渞espectfully disagreesB次元官网网址� with the ruling and would ask a court to overturn that part of the decision.

The employers association said Thursday that the latest job action aggravates the effects of previous work stoppages and causes significant harm to the Canadian economy.

B次元官网网址淭his escalation follows months of labour instability across rail, air, grain and port sectors and compounds CanadaB次元官网网址檚 growing reputation as an unreliable trading partner,B次元官网网址� the employersB次元官网网址� statement said. B次元官网网址淭his level of uncertainty and chaos is untenable for the waterfront industry and CanadaB次元官网网址檚 supply chain.B次元官网网址�

In a written statement, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade vice-president David van Hemmen said his group is B次元官网网址渃alling for immediate action by the federal government to intervene.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e are extremely concerned that this strike could cascade quickly to shutting down the entire West Coast port system,B次元官网网址� van Hemmen said.