Port talks break off, all eyes on Federal Government for next move ...

Today marks Day 4 of the BC Ports Labour Dispute, with members of ILWU having shut down ports up and down the coast of the province, including facilities in Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert port workers, like members around the province, walked off the job at 8 AM on Canada Day, setting up picket lines at all entrances to marine terminal locations in the city.

The weekend was one of talks on Saturday, a break on Sunday and an impasse on Monday; with the employer, BCMEA declaring that there is a need for the ILWU to change its course for negotiations to resume, the management side advising they had 'gone as far as possible on core issues.'

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For the union side of the labour dispute, the 'lack of meaningful engagement on substantive issues' has framed the last few months and days since the strike action bean as to how they see the current situation.

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With the talks at an impasse, pressure is building on the Federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan to find a way to get negotiations back on track, along with the ports to reopen.  

That as business and industry warn of damage to the Canadian and North American economy and a supply chain situation that is already a challenge, now becoming something much more dire.

So far, the Federal government has only issued one statement towards the negotiations; that was prior to the dispute noting that the only solution is that found at the bargaining table.

The Labour Minister has remained in Vancouver through the weekend as the talks took place and then suspended, O'Regan did not comment towards the current impasse through to Monday.

Over the weekend, the ILWU warned the Federal government not to interfere.

With Parliament now on summer hiatus, any back to work legislation, if that becomes the route taken, would require the recall of the House of Commons.

For updated notes on the current situation  and what may be ahead follow our archive page here.