Premier David Eby said he is looking for a 91Ƶrapid solution91Ƶ to the resumed labour dispute at ports in British Columbia but signalled his opposition to federal legislation.
Eby said during an unrelated announcement Wednesday (July 19) in Campbell River that both the BC Maritime Employers Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada will have to show good faith to resolve the dispute, which seemed resolved after a strike of nearly two weeks, only to flare up again.
Longshore workers Tuesday afternoon struck again after their union leadership had rejected a tentative mediated deal on grounds that employers had not addressed cost of living issues. Canada Industrial Relations Board has deemed the strike illegal because the union did not provide 72-hour-notice, something it has since done. The federal government has hinted at legislating an end to the strike, something Eby said will take too much time.
91ƵThey were so close and waiting for the federal government to pass legislation in a minority parliament in Ottawa is not going to be effective in getting the parties back to the table, getting them talking and resolving whatever issues continue to separate them91Ƶ91Ƶ
Disputes about the nature of strike and the language of federal labour code won91Ƶt get ports moving again, Eby added.
91ƵWhat gets the port moving is the parties at the table working at nailing down the final issues that separate them.91Ƶ
Some 7,400 longshore workers first went on strike on July 1. The tentative agreement was first announced on July 14.
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Federal Labour Seamus O91ƵRegan and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in a joint statement that they have been patient in respecting the collective bargaining process, but added the ports need to operate.
91ƵThe deal presented to the parties was the result of a constructive and substantive collective bargaining process,91Ƶ they said. 91ƵIt represented a fair and balanced deal. It was informed by weeks of collective bargaining and drafted by third-party mediators in the interest of both the union and the employer.91Ƶ
Business organizations have also lamented the continued absence of labour peace.
Fiona Famulak, BC Chamber of Commerce CEO, said her organization is disappointed by the union91Ƶs rejection of the tentative agreement.
91ƵOur port infrastructure is critical to the health and success of our businesses, workers and national economy.91Ƶ
She added that the strike had already dragged for too long when the tentative deal was announced.
91ƵWith an estimated $9.7 billion of cargo disrupted since July 1, it is untenable for the labour dispute to continue further,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵThe federal government needs to use every resource at its disposal to bring the parties together and bring a swift end to the strike.91Ƶ
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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