Local 514 Bargaining Update

ILWU Local 514 Strike Activity Commences 

Further to ILWU Local 514’s strike notice, this morning at or around 08:00 am, ILWU Local 514 industry-wide strike activity commenced at BCMEA member terminals.  

ILWU Local 514’s strike action has already begun to impact B.C.’s waterfront operations, and strike activity can easily escalate, including a complete withdrawal of labour without notice. Accordingly, to facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations, the BCMEA has made the difficult decision to lockout forepersons and other Local 514 members on November 4, 2024, commencing on the 16:30 shift and continuing until further notice. This lockout will not apply to grain or cruise operations. 

Despite ILWU Local 514’s regrettable decision to destabilize Canada’s supply chain, the BCMEA’s comprehensive offer remains open until withdrawn.  

Last updated: November 4, 2024, 9:44:00 AM PT

Local 514 Bargaining Update

Responding to ILWU Local 514 Strike Notice, BCMEA Issues Notice of Defensive Lockout Coastwide

In response to ILWU Local 514’s second strike notice set to commence on Monday, November 4 at or about 08:00 am PT, and in anticipation of escalating and unpredictable strike action, the BCMEA has made a decision to take defensive action in the form of a coastwide lockout.

ILWU Local 514’s strike action will have repercussions across B.C.’s waterfront operations, and strike activity can easily escalate, including a complete withdrawal of labour without notice. Accordingly, to facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations, the BCMEA has issued formal notice of its intention to defensively lock out all ILWU Local 514 members on Monday, November 4 at or around 08:00 am PT. Should it be required, this coastwide lockout will shut down all cargo operations of BCMEA Member companies across the province. It will not affect longshoring operations on grain vessels or cruise operations. 

We did not arrive to this decision lightly. This regretful action follows thorough consideration of ILWU Local 514’s continued intransigence and their provocative decision to proceed with another strike notice, despite being found to have been bargaining in bad faith on three occasions. 

The BCMEA appreciates that Canada’s West Coast ports and global trade require certainty and predictability to operate. ILWU Local 514 continues to put Canada’s supply chain and all those that depend on it at risk with its repeated inflammatory and disruptive behaviour. 

The Parties met this week with the assistance of FMCS. The BCMEA was deeply disappointed that ILWU Local 514 came to mediation at this late stage of bargaining, with proposals and positions that took bargaining backwards, and thus further from achieving a collective agreement. 

On Wednesday the BCMEA provided a balanced and competitive final offer to ILWU Local 514. If accepted, it will provide all forepersons with significant gains in wages and benefits without concession requests from employers. The final offer includes a 19.2% wage increase, which would enhance the median foreperson compensation from $246,323 to $293,617 annually, not including benefits and pension. On average, eligible workers would receive a cumulative lump sum payment of approximately $21,000, inclusive of signing bonus and retroactive pay increases back to April 2023. Subject to the date of acceptance, the BCMEA will agree to accelerate and pay retroactivity and the signing bonus in full to each member by mid-December. 

Despite ILWU Local 514’s regrettable decision to repeatedly destabilize Canada’s supply chain, the BCMEA’s comprehensive offer remains open until withdrawn. 

In the interest of all Canadians, the industry is prepared to rescind lock out notice if ILWU Local 514 chooses to withdraw its strike notice. 

Last updated: October 31, 2024, 7:15 PM PT

Local 514 Bargaining Update

Today the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) held a case management conference to hear complaints between the BCMEA and ILWU Local 514.

At 1:19 pm, the CIRB determined that ILWU Local 514’s declaration of strike action against DP World (Canada) Inc. is in contravention of the Canada Labour Code. The CIRB found that the union failed to bargain in good faith when it conducted a strike vote amongst employees of only one member employer of the BCMEA and issued a strike notice based on that strike vote. Accordingly, the CIRB directed the union to rescind the strike notice of July 5, 2024 and advise members that it is rescinded.

Furthermore, the CIRB found ILWU Local 514’s Nanaimo dispatch proposal was illegal because it consists of a receding horizon in bargaining and amounts to a failure to bargain in good faith. Therefore, the Board directed the union to withdraw its proposal.

Read the CIRB decision here.

As a result of the CIRB decision, the BCMEA has rescinded the industry-wide lockout notice.

The BCMEA is disappointed that these steps needed to be taken to ensure the stability of Canada’s West Coast ports but is pleased with the outcomes of the CIRB’s decision.

The CIRB hearing to address outstanding DP World (Canada) Inc. manning proposal of the union, which the BCMEA has alleged to also be illegal, is scheduled to continue August 6, 7, 8, and 9, 2024.

Last updated: July 7 2024, 2:50 PT

Local 514 Bargaining Update

Please be advised that in response to ILWU Local 514’s announced strike action at DP World (Canada) Inc. commencing on July 8, 2024, at or about 04:30 pm, the BCMEA has requested urgent interim intervention by the CIRB. Specifically it has asked the Board to declare proposals and strike action of ILWU Local 514 as contrary to the Code.  If interim relief is granted, ILWU Local 514’s strike action will be prevented. The CIRB has scheduled case management on the morning of Sunday, July 7^th, to address this request. 

This urgent application concerns the ongoing adjudication of the BCMEA’s complaint regarding these matters, which was filed on May 10, 2024. Rather than pursue resolution through the existing CIRB hearing into this matter, ILWU Local 514 has needlessly escalated the dispute by serving strike notice against DP World (Canada) Inc. 

We hope this matter will be resolved expeditiously at the CIRB. However, in the event that the CIRB allows the strike to proceed, the BCMEA believes it has no choice but to take defensive action in the form of an industry-wide lockout. Accordingly, the BCMEA has issued formal notice to ILWU Local 514 of its intention to defensively lock out all ILWU Local 514 members on July 9, 2024, at 04:30pm. This coastwide lockout, should it be required, will shut down all cargo operations of BCMEA Member companies across the province, but will not affect cruise operations nor interrupt longshoring operations on grain vessels.  

The BCMEA did not arrive at this decision lightly as it followed significant discussion and consideration of ILWU Local 514’s continued conduct at the bargaining table and their provocative decision to proceed with strike action despite ongoing litigation concerning their conduct.  

The BCMEA understands that our ports and the entire supply chain require certainty and predictability to operate. A strike at one terminal has repercussions across the Waterfront. Further, once a strike begins, strike activity is not limited to the actions contained in the strike notice, but can easily spread and escalate without further notice, including a complete withdrawal of labour. This level of uncertainty and chaos is untenable for the Waterfront industry and Canada’s supply chain.  

Since November 2022, the BCMEA and ILWU Local 514 have been negotiating on an industry-wide basis, an approach that is aligned with a long-standing practice for the BCMEA-ILWU bargaining process. Bargaining on an industry basis fosters stability and certainty. In targeting DP World (Canada) Inc., ILWU Local 514 is unfairly isolating a single terminal operator while many industry-wide issues remain unresolved.  

The BCMEA has previously offered a 19.2% wage increase, which could have enhanced the median foreperson compensation from $246,323 to $293,617 annually, not including benefits and pension. The four-year proposal was in line with the negotiated 2023 longshore settlement and included: 

• On average, eligible workers would have received a cumulative lump sum payment of approximately $15,000, inclusive of a signing bonus and retroactive pay increases.   

• An increased retirement benefit to $108,750, an increase of 16%. This lump-sum retirement benefit is over and above employees’ pension entitlements. 

B.C.’s waterfront workforce continues to grow, with well-paying foreperson jobs increasing by 73% — 308 net new foreperson jobs — since 2010. 182 new forepersons have been recruited since 2020, with more recruitments underway and forecasted for the future. 

Despite the uncertainty and unpredictability that ILWU Local 514’s notice of strike action has caused, the BCMEA remains committed to achieving a fair settlement that is beneficial for the 730 hardworking forepersons and their families, while also ensuring West Coast ports remain reliable, competitive, and affordable for all Canadians. We call on ILWU Local 514 to continue to engage with us at the CIRB, where we sincerely believe a settlement can be reached without devastating impacts to Canadians. 

We will continue to provide updates as appropriate.   

Last updated: July 6 2024, 4:30 PT

Local 514 Bargaining Update

This week the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) began the hearing to address the complaints between the BCMEA and ILWU Local 514. Additional time is required to complete the hearing and as such, the hearing will continue August 6, 7, 8 and 9.

At time of writing, neither Party has issued 72-hour notice of strike or lockout, nor have there been any labour disruptions. Regular cargo and passenger operations at British Columbia’s ports continue uninterrupted.

We will continue to provide updates as needed.

Last updated: July 5 2024, 4:30 PT

Local 514 Bargaining Update

Further to the appointment of Conciliation Officers by the Minister of Labour on January 19, 2024, the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Ship and Dock Foremen Local 514 (Local 514) are resuming negotiations this week with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services.

Pursuant to the Canada Labour Code, the Conciliation Officers have a 60-day mandate from the day of appointment (up to March 19, 2024). Any extension beyond the 60 days can be made only by mutual consent of the Parties. At the end of the conciliation period, a 21-day cooling off period begins (up to April 9, 2024).

The BCMEA strongly believes the best deals are achieved at the table and that a negotiated settlement is possible with conciliation. The BCMEA is committed to working with the Conciliation Officers to negotiate a fair and balanced agreement with Local 514 that provides stability to Canada’s supply chain while recognizing the skills and efforts of the approximately 730 active forepersons working at B.C. ports.

Last updated: February 6, 2024, 2:20 PT

Local 514 Bargaining Update

On January 10, 2024, the BCMEA filed a Notice of Dispute, seeking conciliation assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services in an effort to conclude a negotiated collective agreement with ILWU Local 514 Ship and Dock Foremen that ensures certainty for Canada’s West Coast ports.

In response, the Minister has appointed three conciliation officers to assist the Parties in reaching a negotiated settlement. The Conciliation Officers appointed are Peter Simpson, Susan Fisher, and Karlene Bateman.

Pursuant to the Canada Labour Code, the conciliation officers have a 60-day mandate from the day of appointment (up to March 19, 2024). Any extension beyond 60 days can be made only by mutual consent of the parties. At the end of the conciliation period, a 21-day cooling off period begins (up to April 9, 2024). Scheduling of conciliation meetings is to be confirmed in the coming days.

We strongly believe the best deals are achieved at the table and that a negotiated settlement is possible with conciliation. The BCMEA is committed to working with the Conciliation Officers and to negotiating a fair and balanced agreement with Local 514 that provides stability to Canada’s supply chain while recognizing the skills and efforts of the approximately 730 active forepersons working at B.C.’s ports.

Last updated: January 19, 2024, 12:20 PT

Local 514 Bargaining Update

In an effort to conclude a negotiated collective agreement with ILWU Local 514 Ship and Dock Foremen that ensures certainty for Canada’s West Coast ports, the BCMEA has filed a notice of dispute under the Canada Labour Code, seeking conciliation assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The Parties have benefited from such third-party assistance in prior rounds of bargaining.

We strongly believe the best deals are achieved at the table and that a negotiated settlement is possible with conciliation, a common and effective dispute resolution mechanism under the Canada Labour Code. With the issuance of this notice, the Minister of Labour is requested to appoint a Conciliation Officer from the FMCS within 15 days.

The BCMEA-ILWU Local 514 Ship and Dock Foremen collective agreement covering wages, benefits, hours of work, and employment conditions expired March 31, 2023.

Last updated: January 10, 2024, 10:30 am PT