B.C. port lockout begins as no deal reached in labour dispute with foremen union

The provincewide lockout against a union of more than 700 foremen at all British Columbia ports began at 4:30 p.m. PST Monday.

The BC Maritime Employers Association has said the lockout is meant to “facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations” in light of “escalating and unpredictable strike action.”

Last week, it said the move was being made “defensively” after International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 had issued a 72-hour strike notice for job action, which started at 8 a.m.

The union has accused the association of “acting recklessly” by threatening the industry-wide lockout, saying it was an “attempt to force the federal government to intervene in the dispute.”

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The employers association said in a statement Sunday that the final offer — which was issued to the union’s president on Wednesday — remained open and that if it were accepted by the union, it would avoid “unnecessary strike action.”

Union president Frank Morena said in a news release Sunday that the employers had threatened to remove existing parts of the collective agreement if the union did not accept its final offer.

“Let me be crystal clear to the BCMEA: our union will not sign any contract which includes concessions that remove existing parts of our collective agreement that our members fought long and hard for over many years,” Morena said.

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In an update Monday morning, the BCMEA says it made the decision to lock out forepersons and other members of the union starting at 4:30 p.m. PST.

“ILWU Local 514’s strike action has already begun to impact to B.C.’s waterfront operations and strike activity can easily escalate, including a complete withdrawal of labour without notice,” the employers said.

The association says its “comprehensive” offer still stands and the lockout will not apply to grain or cruise operators.

The union responded to the new timeline in a statement Monday afternoon. It reiterated the idea that the employers are forcing the federal government to intervene.

“[BCMEA] has deliberately and irresponsibly overreacted to an overtime ban by locking out its members as of 4:30 p.m. today, causing all BC ports to shut down,” the union said.

“Rather than to come to a negotiated agreement between the parties,” Morena added.

The BCMEA then responded to the union in another statement Monday afternoon.

It said, “The only reason there is a labour disruption shutting down Canada’s West Coast ports is because Mr. Morena initiated industry-wide strike action effective 0800 PT November 4.”

“Many of the issues the union leadership claims are in contention were effectively solved with the Longshore agreement. Instead of meaningfully considering the industry’s final offer, ILWU Local 514’s leadership issued industry-wide strike notice with strike activity commencing this morning,” the association added.

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