The Novum Times

Tentative deal reached in B.C. port strike, says union

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The union’s contract caucus will have to decide whether to send the agreement to members for ratification

Published Jul 20, 2023  •  Last updated 4 hours ago  •  1 minute read

Port Strike
The Port of Vancouver is quiet on Wednesday morning, a day after a union caucus rejected a proposed settlement on July 18, 2023. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

A second tentative agreement has been reached in the B.C. port strike, two days after union leaders rejected a proposed settlement recommended by a federal mediator.

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In a letter to members posted to its website Thursday evening, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union local 502 said the union’s bargaining committee has reached a tentative deal with the B.C. Maritime Employers Association.

It said the union’s contract caucus will hold an emergency vote on Friday to decide whether the agreement will be sent to members for ratification.

If the caucus votes in favour of sending the deal to members, the union will call a meeting to present the package to its membership.

This is the second deal reached between the union and its employer.

On July 13, a tentative agreement was reached after federal mediation. However, the agreement was rejected by the union’s caucus on Tuesday.

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According to the employers association, the rejected deal would have given port workers a compounded 19.2 per cent wage bump over four years, as well as increases in retirement lump sum payments, enhanced pension, increased tool allowances and benefits contributions.

The strike has involved about 7,400 port workers at more than 30 port terminals and other sites across B.C.

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade estimates the 13 days of job action up until July 13 when the initial settlement was reached had caused “significant economic harm” and caused $9.9 billion in traded goods to be delayed.

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All is quiet at the Port of Vancouver in Vancouver, BC, Wednesday morning, July 19, 2023. Striking port workers have shut the port for the past several weeks. The union representing striking workers, the ILWU Canada, rejected a proposed settlement and resumed their strike Tuesday. The strike is deemed illegal by the Canada Industrial Relations Board as 72-hour notice was not given. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG)

B.C. ports: Union rescinds 72-hour strike notice that had been set for Saturday

Gantry cranes sit idle above stacks of cargo containers at port during a strike by International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada workers in Vancouver on July 12. The union rejected a mediated settlement, relaunching the strike July 18.

B.C. port strike back on: Workers union rejects mediator’s offer

It's anything but business as usual at the Port of Vancouver on Wednesday, after ILWU Canada rejected a mediated deal, then issued a strike notice for Saturday before rescinding it.

Sputtering B.C. port operations sink hopes of local businesses

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