Federal labour minister launches review of BC Port strike this past summer

The Labour dispute on the BC Waterfront that idled port workers along the BC waterfront including in Prince Rupert for half of the summer, will be the subject of a review by the Federal Government.

Last week Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan announced the details towards the federal investigation,  which will take place under section 106 of the Canada Labour Code, a review he had promised to move forward following the end of the dispute in early August.

“Our Government believes in collective bargaining. We believe that the best deals are made at the table. It can be tough, messy work. But it's how the best deals are made. Disputes, including strikes and lockouts, are all part of that process. 

This past summer, however, Canadians experienced an economic disruption that no single dispute should be responsible for. Our ports are vital to our supply chains, and the scale of the disruption was a burden on the many businesses and workers that depend on them"

Taking on the review will be Anthony Giles and Kevin Banks, both have been contracted to begin the first part of the review process. 

The review is currently underway and will continue until  December 31, 2023.

 

Mr. Giles is noted as an expert in Industrial Relations, while Mr. Banks is described as an experienced arbitrator and mediator. 

They will be tasked with identifying the key questions that need to be answered and proposing the terms of reference for this review. In the New Year, the government will update Canadians on the next steps in that process. 

That indicates that the work until December is just the first step, in what will be a larger review of the issues related to the summer labour disruption.

The Federal Labour Minister's notes that the goal of this review is stability. 

With O'Regan observing that: "Canada is a reliable trading partner to the world. That is a good thing for every employer and worker in this country. But our credibility depends on the stable operation of our supply chains. We must do everything we can to preserve that stability.” 

The Full statement including some additional background on the two officials tasked with the study can be explored here.

You can review some of our past notes from the turmoil on the ports of July here.