VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) formally initiated a lockout of over 700 unionized West Coast port workers on Nov. 4.

BCMEA has been negotiating with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 since its labor contract expired. With no new collective agreement reached, Frank Morena, president of ILWU Local 514, told BCMEA that the union would engage in limited job action only, with an overtime ban and a refusal to implement technology change, beginning Nov. 4. In response, to facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations, BCMEA issued the lockout.

“ILWU Local 514’s strike action has already begun to impact BC’s waterfront operations, and strike activity can easily escalate, including a complete withdrawal of labor without notice,” BCMEA said.

ILWU Local 514 believes the BCMEA “completely overreacted with a lockout threat.”

On the other hand, BCMEA said the union has been found to have bargained in bad faith by the Canada Industrial Relations Board three times, including an attempt at an illegal strike in July 2024.

BCMEA presented its “final offer” to ILWU Local 514 the weekend just before the strike activity and lockout. The offer remains open until withdrawn.

The proposed contract includes an increase in median compensation from C$246,323 to C$293,617 and an average C$21,000 lump sum signing bonus, including retroactive pay. Additionally, if accepted, the ILWU Local 514 retirement payment will increase to C$108,750 above and beyond their pension and benefits. 

With this deal, BCMEA is asking ILWU Local 514 to sign a similar agreement that its Longshore counterparts agreed to after a prolonged dispute in July 2023.

“This final offer not only matches what was ratified by the ILWU Longshore last year but includes specific additional elements catered to the needs of ILWU Local 514 members,” BCMEA said.

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is asking the Canadian government to intervene.

“We are dismayed by the decision of the ILWU 514 leadership to issue a 72-hour strike notice to all BCMEA member companies,” said Bridgitte Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. “We are extremely concerned that this strike could cascade quickly to shutting down the entire west coast port system.”

A strike could put $800 million in trade that flows through the ports at risk per day, the group said.