Friday, June 30, 2023

Skeena Bulkley Valley MP calls for Federal Government to ensure of a equitable deal in port dispute

Skeena Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach issued a statement
today towards the state of labour negotiations between the 
BCMEA and ILWU Canada as the deadline for a potential
strike gets closer to the 8 AM Saturday point

The MP who represents Skeena-Bulkley Valley, which includes a large number of port workers at terminal facilities in Prince Rupert, has put his voice to the call for the Federal Government to remain involved in the ongoing collective bargaining process.

NDP MP Taylor Bachrarch, noting of the ticking down of the clock towards a potential strike action tomorrow morning at 8AM issued a statement today, along with the NDP labour critic Alexandre Boulerice to remain proactive in their tole in the negotiations.

The MP's concerns echo the three pivotal areas of dispute for the ILWU with the Employers under the BCMEA umbrella.

With the MP noting of the ILWU position on the erosion of union work resulting from contracting out, potential job losses from automation, and the need for fair compensation in the face of inflation. 

"The issues the ILWU has raised are important ones and given the state of Canada's supply chain, the stakes are very high. We need the ministers to show up, protect workers' rights, and ensure an equitable deal is reached as soon as possible." -- Skeena Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach




click to enlarge

ILWU Canada issued their 72 strike notice on Wednesday morning, setting the stage for a potential withdrawal of labour on the province's waterfronts as of tomorrow morning.

There have been few details released since the strike notice was issued Wednesday.

Over 7,000 port workers across the province from Prince Rupert to Vancouver and on Vancouver Island are poised to act on their notice.

The Federal government has not issued any further updates of their own since their statement of Friday noting of their continued support for the negotiations.

You can follow the path forward from both sides of the discussion  from the links below:

BCMEA

ILWU

More notes on labour themes in Prince Rupert can be reviewed here.

1 comment:

  1. Before calling on the federal government to get involved, NDP MP Taylor Bachrach probably should have had a quick word with ILWU President Rob Ashton who has warned "The federal government must stay out of our business" (CBC). I'm not too clear on the Conservative Party's position. I imagine they'll just say that it's all Justin Trudeau's fault.

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