International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada members on Aug. 4-5 will be voting on a new labor contract with the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA), according to an ILWU announcement on Aug. 1.
The scheduled vote is happening a week after ILWU Canada’s voting membership rejected a four-year tentative agreement that was proposed by a senior federal mediator and recommended for ratification by the ILWU Bargaining Committee and their Longshore Caucus (GM July 28, p. 1).
Terms of the new contract were not disclosed, but the BCMEA in a July 29 statement said the earlier contract rejected by the ILWU provided a compounded wage increase of 19.2%, a signing bonus of $1.48 per hour worked to be paid to each employee, and an 18.5% increase to a Modernization and Mechanization retirement lump sum payment.
“It has been 31 days since ILWU Canada communicated their first intention to strike,” the BCMEA statement said “The disconnect within ILWU Canada and their erratic actions of the past month have impacted Canadians for too long. Of note, while the ILWU have not communicated their next steps, they retain the ability to provide 72-hour strike notice. Regrettably, ILWU’s rejection once again leaves businesses, Canadians, and all those who depend on a stable, well-functioning supply chain hanging in the balance.”
Following the failed vote, Federal Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan on July 29 referred the dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) and said he was directing CIRB to determine whether the union’s rejection of the tentative agreement has eliminated the possibility of a negotiated resolution. If the CIRB made this determination, O’Regan said a new collective agreement or final binding arbitration would be imposed on the parties.
On July 30, however, the ILWU Canada and the BCMEA issued a joint statement saying they had secured a new tentative settlement with the help of the CIRB, with both parties recommending ratification by union membership and member employers. The ILWU Canada scheduled a Stop Work meeting for Aug. 2 to recommend the terms to members.
“The longshore caucus is recommending to the membership the negotiated terms of settlement,” Rob Ashton, ILWU Canada President, said in an Aug. 1 statement. “On Thursday, Aug. 3, and Friday Aug. 4, 2023, voting will take place to ratify the new collective agreement.”