BC waterfront to resume operations at 1630 Thursday, May 30, 2019
[ Vancouver, British Columbia, May 30, 2019 ] The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and ILWU–Canada are pleased to advise they have come to a tentative agreement that will continue to allow all BC Ports to be a competitive, efficient and reliable gateway for the benefit of all Canadians. The tentative agreement is subject to ratification.
Negotiations resumed at noon yesterday and after another round of discussions at the bargaining table, a tentative agreement was reached earlier this morning.
Effective immediately, the lockout across the BC waterfront has been lifted and operations are set to resume for the 1630 shift on Thursday, May 30, 2019.
“We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the ILWU. We appreciate the efforts of both parties to focus on reaching an agreement and ensuring BC Ports remain open for business. The lockout has been lifted and we look forward to getting operations back to normal. We would like to thank the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) and in particular, Peter Simpson and Kathy Peters, as well as the Minister of Labour, The Honourable Patty Hajdu for their assistance in this process. We are confident that this agreement, once signed, will secure a positive long-term outlook for trade and operations at our terminals, for the Province and for the country,” said Jeff Scott, Chair of the Board of BCMEA
About BCMEA
The BCMEA represents approximately 55 waterfront employers and, by extension, the more than 7,000 individuals who work for them. BCMEA customer-members are a vital part of BC and Canadian economies. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, industry partners move 60 million tonnes of goods worth $53 billion around the globe every year.
For more information, please contact:
Lauren Chan
604.360.4741
[email protected]