Article by: Rick Walker, Vice President, TradeInsights, LCB, CCS

The long running British Columbia ports labor dispute has finally been settled. On Aug. 4, members of the ILWU Canada Longshore Division voted 77.64% in favor of ratification of a four-year negotiated tentative agreement with the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA). The tentative B.C. ports deal was reached after the Canada Industrial Relations Board stepped in. The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) notes that the agreement that has now been reached with ILWU Canada comes after five months of negotiations, conciliation and mediation, and five weeks of labor instability at B.C.’s ports.

“The renewed collective agreement,” says BCMEA, “includes increases in wages, benefits and training that recognizes the skills and efforts of B.C.’s waterfront workforce, while providing certainty and stability for the future of Canada’s West Coast ports.”

ILWU Canada has, as yet, said nothing publicly about what’s in the new B.C. port deal, but the Canada Industrial Relations Board indicated that details would be released after ratification has been formalized.

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