The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) has received a formal, written 72-hour strike notice from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in Canada, as collective bargaining negotiations between the two sides have reached an impasse. The ILWU in Canada has been working without a contract since the expiration of the previous agreement on March 31st, 2023.

The strike notice is in reference to the expired Canadian ILWU Longshore Local Contract with the BCMEA. The strike is scheduled to begin on July 1st, 2023, at 8:00 AM PT in British Columbia. Unless a resolution or government intervention is successful prior to that time, workers will strike at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert. The strike is expected to delay cargo that is routed via these ports, which are both critical routes for cargo destined or originating within the interior US and Canada.

The negotiations involve two coastwide collective agreements, one with the Longshore Locals and another with Local 514 Ship & Dock Foremen, which represents over 7,400 longshore workers and foremen at Canada’s West Coast ports. These agreements cover various aspects such as wages, benefits, hours of work, and employment conditions. The BCMEA represents 49 waterfront employers and operators in British Columbia.

RIM logistics, ltd. will continue to closely monitor the situation and keep you advised of any updates as they become known. Please contact your RIM representative should you have any questions or need additional information.