Canada's Trudeau convenes a crisis group over Canadian port strike as union gives 72-hour notice

abcnews.go.com:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with top officials after the longshore union renewed a 72-hour strike notice after already halting shipments in and out of ports in Canada’s west coast region of British Columbia for nearly two weeks

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with top officials Wednesday after the longshore union renewed a 72-hour strike notice after already halting shipments in and out of ports in Canada’s west coast region of British Columbia for nearly two weeks.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada said Wednesday it did so in the hope of returning to the bargaining table, and it “regrets” the economic impact of the dispute that previously shut down British Columbia ports for 13 days at the start of the month, stalling cargo worth billions.

About 7,400 workers at more than 30 British Columbia port terminals and other sites began striking on July 1 and originally returned to work last Thursday after a tentative deal was drafted by a federal mediator.

But workers briefly returned to picket lines on Tuesday afternoon after the union caucus rejected the four-year contract.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board ruled that was unlawful and ordered members to cease and desist from strike action until proper 72-hour notice had been given. It said the union’s position was that it didn’t need to provide notice since there was an ongoing strike.

Trudeau convened the incident response group, which only convenes at times of national crisis, or to discuss events with major implications for Canada. Consisting of Cabinet ministers and senior officials, it has previously been convened over events including the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and blockades