Tentative deal reached in B.C. port strike, ending 13-day work stoppage
CTV
The strike at British Columbia’s ports is ending after both sides accepted the terms of a proposed deal recommended by a federal mediator.
The strike at British Columbia’s ports may soon be coming to an end after both sides reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year deal.
The BC Maritime Employers Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada were given 24 hours to consider the terms of a proposed settlement by a federal mediator, which was delivered Wednesday morning.
On Thursday, the two sides reached a tentative agreement that is subject to ratification by both parties, according to a BCMEA statement.
“In partnership with our member employers, the BCMEA is committed to working closely with ILWU Canada and their Locals and supply chain partners to safely resume operations as soon as possible,” writes the association.
A brief statement on the union’s website details that the tentative deal was reached at 10:20 a.m., and that no further details will be released.
About 7,400 members of the ILWU Canada in Vancouver began striking on July 1, demanding better protections for workers and higher wages.
After mounting calls for Ottawa to intervene, Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan invoked his statutory powers under the Canada Labour Code, instructing a federal mediator to draft the terms of a recommended settlement.
