Alberta premier urges Trudeau to legislate B.C. port workers back to work

'Albertans and Canadians cannot afford to have hundred of millions of dollars daily in products delayed at these ports,' the premier said.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to mandate British Columbia’s port workers to return to work.

“Canadians have had enough. The federal government must reconvene parliament and legislate these workers return to work,” Smith said in an emailed statement Tuesday.

“Albertans and Canadians cannot afford to have hundred of millions of dollars daily in products delayed at these ports, and the longer this strike continues, the more Canada’s credibility as a reliable trading partner is damaged.”

The workers returned to the picket line Tuesday afternoon after the offer presented to both the union and employer last Thursday was rejected.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and the B.C. Maritime Employers Association first announced that a tentative agreement was reached last week, but the employer said the union — representing thousands of port workers — has backed out.

“We regret to advise that ILWU Canada (ILWU) has communicated that ILWU’s internal caucus leadership rejected the tentative agreement, before it was even taken to a vote of the full union membership,” the BCMEA said in a Tuesday statement.

“This fair and comprehensive package could not satisfy some of ILWU internal caucus leadership, and in rejecting this tentative agreement, ILWU Leadership is choosing to further harm Canada’s economy, international reputation and most importantly, to Canadians, their livelihoods and all those that rely on a stable supply chain.”

The employers association said the proposed four-year collective agreement settlement package that was rejected included “considerable hikes in wages and benefits” that exceeded the approximate 10 per cent increase over the past three years.