B.C. port employers issue lockout notice in labour dispute with foremen union
Ports in British Columbia are facing the possibility of another province-wide labour disruption as employers say they will lock out members of the union representing more than 700 foremen after it served a strike notice.
The BC Maritime Employers Association said in a statement that it has issued a formal notice that it will “defensively” lock out members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 starting Monday at 9:00 a.m.
The lockout, which would shut down all cargo operations among association members across B.C., is meant to “facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations” in light of “escalating and unpredictable strike action,” the statement said.
Employers had said that the union issued a 72-hour strike notice that job action would begin at 8:00 a.m. Monday, after three days of mediated talks this week yielded no agreement in the dispute that has been ongoing since the last contract expired in March 2023.