ILWU Canada Serves Strike Notice

The BCMEA has received formal, written 72-hour strike notice from ILWU Canada with regards to the expired ILWU Canada Longshore Local collective agreement with the BCMEA.

Strike notice has been directed to the BCMEA and its member employers effective July 1, 2023 at 08:00 am PT in British Columbia.

This strike notice and potential strike action will not impact employees required to service grain vessels in accordance with Section 87.7 (1) of the Canada Labour Code. It is our intention that cruise vessels will also be serviced, and we communicated the same to federal mediators last week but are unclear at this moment whether the ILWU will provide service to that segment of the industry.  

Since March 28, 2023, the BCMEA and ILWU Canada have been engaged in the conciliation and mediation process on the request of ILWU Canada, who triggered the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) by filing a notice of dispute.

During this time, the BCMEA has advanced multiple proposals and positions in good faith, with the objective of making progress and achieving a fair deal at the table. 

Despite today’s regrettable development, we remain ready to re-engage with our labour partners through the federal mediation process, with the desire of reaching a fair and balanced deal at the table that keeps our ports stable and goods flowing for Canadians.

We continue to be open to any solution that brings both Parties to a balanced agreement. That includes voluntarily entering a mediation-arbitration process shaped by the parties that encourages continued dialogue and negotiations and only, if necessary, provides for a binding outcome via interest arbitration. So far, ILWU Canada has declined this binding mediation & arbitration proposal.      

The Parties are scheduled to continue bargaining with the assistance of the FMCS tomorrow, Thursday, June 29, 2023.