British Columbia Ports
BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Ship & Dock Foremen Local 514 (ILWU Local 514)
March 2023 – Collective agreement covering wages, benefits, hours of work and employment conditions between the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Ship & Dock Foremen Local 514 (ILWU Local 514), representing approximately 730 employees, expires March 31, 2023.
October 2023 – Bargaining to renew the collective agreement between the BCMEA and ILWU Local 514 begins.
January 2024 – In an effort to conclude a negotiated collective agreement with ILWU Local 514 that ensures certainty for Canada’s West Coast ports, the BCMEA files 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.
May 2024 – The BCMEA files a complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board CIRB) related to the conduct of the union bargaining committee and their intransigence at the bargaining table.
June 2024 – The BCMEA has been advised that ILWU local 514 members have voted to reject the industry’s revised comprehensive offer.
July 2024 – The 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.
July 2024 – ILWU Local 1514 provides formal, written 72-hour strike notice of intended strike action against DP World (Canada) Inc., commencing on July 8, 2024, at or about 04:30 pm PT.
July 2024 – On July 7, 2024, 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 company 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 Accordingly, the CIRB directed the union to rescind the strike notice of July 5, 2024 and advised members that it is rescinded.
Port of Montreal
The Maritime Employers Association (MEA) and Longshore Workers’ Union (CUPE Local 375) Negotiations Update.
December 2023 – Collective agreement between the Port of Montreal Longshore Workers’ Union (CUPE Local 375), representing approximately 1,000 longshore workers at the port, and the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) expires on December 31, 2023. Wages and job security remain the key bargaining points.
December 2023 – The MEA applies to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) for recognition of essential services at Port of Montreal terminals.
January 2024 – The CIRB rejects a request by the MEA to deem port work an essential service in a bid to prevent a strike on the waterfront.
April 2024 – CUPE Local 375 rejects, by a margin of 99.5 percent, MEA’s latest offer to renew their collective agreement.
May 2024 – The MEA provided an update on labour negotiations with CUPE Local 375. As per the MEA, the two sides are still in mediation once a week, with the final scheduled session currently set for June 14th. A strike has not been voted on or planned at this point. The MEA’s priority remains the signing of a negotiated collective agreement to bring back stability to the Port of Montreal and the Canadian supply chain.
Canadian Rail
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)/Canadian National (CN) and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) Negotiations Update
December 2023 – Tensions between the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) union and railways Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) are ramping up after the December 31, 2023 expiration of three major collective agreements. About 9,300 workers at the railways are covered by the agreements. Negotiations have come to a standstill and CN and CPKC have filed notice of disputes with the federal government, requesting government mediators be appointed.
May 2024 – On May 1st, the TCRC union says members working at CN and CPKC voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate, as both sides remain far apart in labour negotiations. This strike authorization is valid for 60 days and expires on June 30th and positions the union to begin a work stoppage on May 22nd.
May 2024 – Late on Thursday, May 9th, Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan announced that he had asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to look at whether the strike might have health or safety implications to the public. Until the board has rendered a decision, a strike or lockout cannot commence and there is no set timeline for the board to issue a decision.
June 2024 – On June 29th, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference announced that unionized workers from CN and CPKC Southern overwhelmingly voted in favour of going on strike unless they get a new labour deal. This is the second time the union has authorized a strike this year. Members previously approved a strike on May 1st, which expired on June 30th, requiring this new vote to be undertaken.
July 2024 – The CIRB informed CN and CPKC on July 12th that it intends to issue its decision regarding the Ministerial Referral on the maintenance of activities by Friday, August 9th.
For more information, contact David Lychek, Director – Ocean & Air Services.
