B.C. port strike ‘illegal,’ O’Regan says as union reissues 72-hour notice
The union representing roughly 7,400 British Columbia port workers issued a 72-hour strike notice Wednesday, hours after the federal labour minister deemed its impromptu strike “illegal.”
The union ordered its members back to the picket line Tuesday after rejecting an offer that briefly ended the strike last week.
That tentative agreement between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU) and the B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) was proposed by a meditator who received direction from Ottawa to table the offer.
Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan called that strike “illegal” after the Canada Industrial Relations Board ruled Wednesday the ILWU stop its job action as it did not provide 72 hours notice.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) – an independent body created to keep industrial peace – this morning ruled that the ILWU Canada cease and desist from participating in any strike action because the union did not provide 72 hours notice.
This strike is illegal. pic.twitter.com/y8NuxjDmR8
— Seamus O'Regan Jr (@SeamusORegan) <a href=«https://twitter.com/SeamusORegan/status/1681686376645787649?ref_src=» https:>July 19, 2023
“The re-issuance of strike notice shows that we will be facing a repeat of actions by the ILWU Leadership that will continue to grind operations to a halt at Canada’s largest ports,” BCMEA said in a statement.
“The economy, businesses, and Canadians cannot withstand another unnecessary and reckless labour disruption by ILWU.”
ILWU members are set to walk off the job on Saturday at 9 a.m. PT should a deal not be reached.
BCMEA said that the ILWU’s internal caucus leadership rejected the “fair and comprehensive package” that was proposed by the mediator.
BCMEA said the
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