West Coast port lockout ended by tentative settlement
May 31, 2019The B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) representing the employers and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) representing the workers have come to a tentative agreement which ended the lockout at Canada’s West Coast ports.
With the West Coast ports accounting for two-thirds of Canada’s container traffic, resolution of this issue was at the forefront of RCC’s advocacy efforts the past two weeks. RCC was in regular contact with the Offices of Canada’s Ministers of Labour and Transport, pressing our industry’s concerns about the potential disruption and cost to business and ultimately, to Canadian consumers.
As the three existing terminals have the same operator, the dispute highlights lack of competition and the importance of a proposed new container terminal at the Port of Vancouver currently undergoing Environmental Assessment Review. RCC will continue our advocacy for increased container capacity.
Please feel free to contact Greg Wilson, RCC’s Director, Government Relations (B.C.) with any comments or questions at gwilson@retailcouncil.org or by telephone at (604) 736-0368.
