B.C. port workers expected to vote on tentative deal next week, employer says
The labour dispute between B.C. port workers and their employer could soon be over, with union members expected to vote on a tentative deal next week.
The B.C. Maritime Employers Association said it has learned the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada Local 502's caucus has approved the agreement submitted last week by a federal mediator.
"The tentative deal will be sent for a ratification vote by the ILWU voting membership, expected late next week, with results anticipated shortly thereafter," the BCMEA wrote in an update on negotiations.
The employer described the agreement as "fair and equitable," and said it is hopeful the terms will be supported by union members.
The mediator's agreement, delivered last week with a 24-hour acceptance deadline, was initially approved by negotiators for both sides, ending a 13-day strike.
But the ILWU caucus subsequently rejected the terms without sending the deal to members for a vote.
Port workers returned to the picket lines on Tuesday, but the Canada Industrial Relations Board deemed the renewed job action illegal because the union hadn't issued another 72-hour notice.
The ILWU then filed a strike notice on Wednesday, only to rescind it hours later.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with an incident response group the same day to discuss a path forward—something that’s only done under extreme circumstances.
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade estimates the dispute has disrupted more than $10.7 billion in trade.
“We want to see a resolution because at the end of the day, it's not just Vancouver’s port, it's Canada's port. There's so much economic activity that goes through there. And every minute it's not operational really hurts the entire country,” said Ken Sim, mayor of Vancouver.
Businesses across the continent are watching closely as supply chains are strained.
“Considering that this has been a nearly three week ordeal that has really provided a lot of uncertainty for Canada, and of course, Canada's economic reputation. Perhaps it is time the federal government looks at essential service legislation for port workers so that this does not happen again,” said Annie Dormuth, of the Canadian Federation Of Independent Business.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From essential goods to common stocking stuffers, Trudeau offering Canadians temporary tax relief
Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
She thought her children just had a cough or fever. A mother shares sons' experience with walking pneumonia
A mother shares with CTVNews.ca her family's health scare as medical experts say cases of the disease and other respiratory illnesses have surged, filling up emergency departments nationwide.
Putin says Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile that he claims the West can't stop
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday that Moscow has tested a new intermediate-range missile in a strike on Ukraine, and he warned that it could use the weapon against countries that have allowed Kyiv to use their missiles to strike Russia.
Service Canada holding back 85K passports amid Canada Post mail strike
Approximately 85,000 new passports are being held back by Service Canada, which stopped mailing them out a week before the nationwide Canada Post strike.
Taylor Swift's motorcade spotted along Toronto's Gardiner Expressway
Taylor Swift is officially back in Toronto for round two. The popstar princess's motorcade was seen driving along the Gardiner Expressway on Tuesday afternoon, making its way to the downtown core ahead of night four of ‘The Eras Tour’ at the Rogers Centre.
Manitoba RCMP issue Canada-wide warrant for Ontario semi-driver charged in deadly crash
Manitoba RCMP have issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for the semi-driver involved in a crash that killed an eight-year-old girl and her mother.
Here's a list of items that will be GST/HST-free over the holidays
Canadians won’t have to pay GST on a selection of items this holiday season, the prime minister vowed on Thursday.
Mother charged after infant dies in midtown Toronto: police
The mother of an infant who died after being found at an apartment building in midtown Toronto on Wednesday has been charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.
B.C. man who sold Porsche to scammers shares cautionary tale
A man from B.C.’s Lower Mainland who was scammed while selling his Porsche Cayenne online is sharing his cautionary tale – while calling for increased protections from the government.