The provincewide lockout against a union of more than 700 foremen at all British Columbia ports is expected to begin at 8 a.m.

The BC Maritime Employers Association has said the lockout is meant to 91裸聊视频渇acilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations91裸聊视频� in light of 91裸聊视频渆scalating and unpredictable strike action.91裸聊视频�

Last week, it said the move was being done 91裸聊视频渄efensively91裸聊视频� after International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 had issued a 72-hour strike notice for job action, which also starts at 8 a.m.

The union has accused the association as 91裸聊视频渁cting recklessly91裸聊视频� by threatening the industry-wide lockout, saying it was an an 91裸聊视频渁ttempt to force the federal government to intervene in the dispute.91裸聊视频�

The employers association said in a statement Sunday that the final offer 91裸聊视频� which was issued to the union91裸聊视频檚 president on Wednesday 91裸聊视频� remained open and that if it were accepted by the union, it would avoid 91裸聊视频渦nnecessary strike action.91裸聊视频�

Union president Frank Morena said in a news release Sunday that the employers had threatened to remove existing parts of the collective agreement if the union did not accept its final offer.

91裸聊视频淟et me be crystal clear to the BCMEA: our union will not sign any contract which includes concessions that remove existing parts of our collective agreement that our members fought long and hard for over many years,91裸聊视频� Morena said.