Following 17 months of unproductive labor negotiations, unionized longshore workers in British Columbia, represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in Canada, are voting on whether they will strike. The vote will take place on Wednesday, May 8th and Thursday, May 9th, and a strike could occur after the group provides 72 hours of written notice.
More than 3,000 workers from the Port of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Vancouver Island, and the Lower Mainland are included in the negotiations. Their most recent contract was valid for eight years and ended on March 31, 2018. The workers and management were in a cooling off period that expired on May 4th.
If a strike occurs, shippers can expect significant delays and disruption. It is also possible that delays will occur leading up to the vote. Deringer will continue to provide information regarding the ongoing labor negotiations in BC.
