(Vancouver) The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) is calling for urgent intervention from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to avert an imminent strike by a union representing ship and dock foremen.
She said Local 514 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has filed a strike notice against DP World Canada, which will begin Monday at 4:30 p.m.
She said this is happening despite the fact that the CCRI began holding hearings this week to address complaints filed by the Association and the union.
The Association is now asking the CCRI to declare that the union’s proposals and the strike action are contrary to the Canada Labour Code.
She said the Council has scheduled a case management meeting for Sunday to address the request.
The association argues that if the CCRI authorizes the strike, it will have “no choice” but to trigger an industry-wide lockout.
The BCMEA has put ILWU Local 514 on notice of its intention to lock out all union members at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“This lockout, if necessary, will shut down all freight operations of BCMEA member companies across the province, but will not affect cruise operations or interrupt longshoring operations on grain vessels,” the Association said in a press release.
It calls on ILWU Local 514 to withdraw its strike notice and allow the dispute resolution process to conclude before the CIRB.
The ILWU announced last month that 99 percent of the approximately 600 longshore foremen who voted opposed a “final offer” from the association.
Local 514 President Frank Morena said at the time that DP World Canada told him in December it would unilaterally introduce some automation into its rail intermodal yard at Vancouver’s Port Centerm.
The union said other issues had yet to be resolved, such as improved pension benefits and some allowances.