No word yet on status of port workers contract negotiations

Talks are underway between the ILWU and BCMEA to try
and reach an agreement on a new labour contract for BC's Ports
(photo of Fairview Terminal from Port of PR)

While expansion plans for DP World's Fairview container terminal make for the path forward for the future, work on the docks of British Columbia has a more immediate concern, that being the need for a new labour agreement for the estimated 6,000 port workers that keep those operations moving.

The eight year contract that governed relations between the ILWU and BC Marine Employers Association came to an end in March of this year and since that time there has been little heard on the state of negotiation and if the two parties are close to hammering out a new deal.

As we outlined on the blog in January, the employers association wasn't quite as enthusiastic about another eight year deal, so the length of any agreement could make for the first sticking point as the negotiations move forward.

Last month, Business in Vancouver provided a fairly extensive background piece as to the nature of the current negotiations, their review as to what elements are key when it comes to the talks included:

A recent extension reached by American port workers, which has secured labour peace for West Coast ports until June of 2022.

Volatility in the global shipping industry, with container company consolidation affecting shipment prices.

The future for automation and changing technology services at British Columbia ports

The full overview from Business in Vancouver, which also outlines some of the recent history about port relations in the province can be reviewed here.

With port throughout at Vancouver and Prince Rupert ports a major element for Canadian trade, ensuring that a deal is hammered out without any form of labour disruption will be a significant goal for both the union and employer negotiators.

The shipment of containers has seen some impressive growth in Vancouver and in particular through the Port of Prince Rupert over the last few years, and with an expanded footprint for Fairview in the near future, ensuring that those movements continue without disruption will be the focus for much of the discussions.

To this point of their talks, both the ILWU and BCMEA have kept a fairly low profile, with little in the way of information leaking out about the state of the negotiations.

You can keep up with the two sides through their web presence below:

ILWU 
BCMEA

Note on local developments for the Prince Rupert waterfront can be found on our Port of Prince Rupert Archive and DP World Fairview Terminal archives.

Other labour related notes in the Northwest can be reviewed here.