Several thousand unionized port staff in Canada’s western province of British Columbia went on strike after failing to succeed in a deal to resume an industrywide contract that expired in March, a waterfront employers group mentioned on Saturday.
The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) mentioned it and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU Canada) had met Thursday and Friday in talks supported by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
“Unfortunately, a tentative agreement could not be reached,” the BCMEA mentioned.
ILWU Canada members have been on strike at websites throughout British Columbia, the BCMEA mentioned. Asked for remark, the union mentioned it could situation a press release as soon as there’s a decision to the dispute over the collective bargaining settlement, which covers about 7,500 staff at 30 terminals within the province.
The walkout might have severe penalties for Canada’s financial system and small companies, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) mentioned. The group urged the federal government to make sure port operations are maintained.
On Wednesday, the longshore staff union issued a 72-hour strike discover.
In a Twitter publish on Saturday, Canada’s Minister of Labour, Seamus O’Regan Jr., mentioned the BCMEA and ILWU Canada stay on the bargaining desk working towards a deal, including that the federal mediators proceed to help the events of their negotiations.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
