Board order ends strike efforts at Canadian ports

The strike by ship and dock workers in the ports of Western Canada, scheduled for July 8, has been cancelled.

The planned strike by ship and dock workers at ports in western Canada was called off after the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ruled that the union’s strike notice violated the country’s labour laws, Reuters reported.

“The Board directs the union to withdraw its notice of strike,” the CIRB said in its order. The decision followed a complaint by the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) against the 72-hour strike, arguing that it was organized in “bad faith” and in contravention of Canadian Labour Law. The union has not yet responded to a request for comment.

According to Reuters, the strike was prompted by a challenge to port operator DP World’s employment contracts, which included changes to overtime, pensions and an increase in layoffs as a result of automation.

The BCMEA had previously warned that the coast-wide lockout could potentially lead to a closure of all cargo operations of its member companies across the region, with only cruises and grain shipping being spared from the impact.

According to Canada’s Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan, federal mediators are working with the parties to reach an agreement.

Late last year, Canada’s Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced the creation of the Green Shipping Corridor Program – an investment of $165.4 million – and launched a call for proposals under the program.