June 27, 2023 – All remains quite on the western front as negotiators representing each side continue to meet with the help of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a government body offering dispute resolution to federally regulated employees in key sectors of the economy. Canaan Transport will advise if a 72 hour strike or lockout notice is issued.
June 22, 2023 – As the cooling off period has ended, both ILWU Canada and the BCMEA are now in a position to call for a strike or a lockout. But there has not been any word from either camp. As many recall, the last time there was such action was back in May 2019, following a short 90 minute lockout and a threat of a strike. With the US west coast labour situation now resolved, focus now has switched to seeing if Canada will follow suit. We will provide additional updates as they become known.
June 15, 2023 – A tentative labour deal between dockworkers and port employers was reached yesterday (Wednesday), after more than a year of contentious negotiations. The agreement would run six years between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents more than 22,000 dockworkers, and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), representing employers at 29 ports. The tentative agreement must be approved by the dockworkers and operators, and could take several months. A joint statement between the ILWU and PMA read, “recognizes the heroic efforts and personal sacrifices of the ILWU workforce in keeping our ports operating.” President Biden praised the agreement, saying it showed how collective bargaining works and congratulated the port workers. There is no word yet on how this will affect the ILWU Canada negotiations which are still ongoing.
June 14, 2023 – Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su is in California for talks with West Coast port employers and the dockworkers’ union in an effort to break an impasse in a long-running contract negotiation. Su is encouraging ocean carriers and terminal operators, represented by the Pacific Maritime Association, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union “to stay at the table and reach an agreement,” said Julie McClain Downey, assistant Labor Secretary for public affairs. She did not elaborate on the status of the talks.
June 13, 2023 – ILWU Canada has confirmed that the weekend vote has given it the mandate in favour of strike action if needed. The timeline for possible strike or lockout action has not changed; the parties cannot acquire the legal right to strike or lockout before June 21. Further, the BC Maritime Employers Association and ILWU Canada have mutually agreed that no 72-hour strike or lockout notice will be filed before June 21. The earliest either party could exercise the right to strike or lockout is 12:01 am PT on June 24. The parties are continuing to meet with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
June 12, 2023 – Canada’s International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and maritime employers plan one more day of talks on a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the results of a vote by union members on a possible strike that could hit the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert. The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) is expected on Tuesday to have a bargaining session with ILWU Canada. The Canadian government’s Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) will oversee the talks, according to a statement from the BCMEA.
June 7, 2023 – On June 5, ILWU Canada’s Negotiating Committee authorized the ILWU Longshore Locals to conduct a strike vote in their negotiations with the B.C. Maritime Employers Association. The votes will be held on June 9 and 10.
June 5, 2023 – Since March 28, 2023, the BCMEA and ILWU Canada have been engaged in the conciliation process, guided by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). As the conciliation period has concluded, negotiations now enter a 21-day cooling-off period ending June 21. During the cooling-off period, the parties acquire the legal right to strike or lockout, but may not exercise their right to strike or lockout until:
- 21 days have passed since the end of the conciliation process;
- a strike or lockout vote has been taken; and
- a 72-hour strike notice has been given.
The parties have agreed that no 72-hour strike or lockout notice will be filed before June 21, if at all. The earliest either party could exercise their legal right to strike or lockout is 12:01am on June 24. The parties are scheduled to continue to meet during this period with the assistance of FMCS.
June 2, 2023 – Labour shortages at several West Coast ports led to limited terminal operations on Friday morning. The Port of Oakland and Port of Los Angeles had limited some terminal operations, spokespeople at the two ports confirmed. The terminal closures come as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association are negotiating revisions to a coast-wide master contract. Talks have now been ongoing for more than a year, but prior to the terminal disruptions, negotiators had said they were optimistic that a deal could come soon.
May 8, 2023 – The transpacific mid-April GRIs imposed by carriers, ahead of the finalization of annual contracts, are beginning to lose steam, as container spot rates from Asia to the U.S. come back under pressure. Xeneta’s XSI Asia-U.S. west coast component declined 9% this week, to $1,484 per 40ft, while the Freightos Baltic Exchange FBX average spot rate fell 10% to $1,527 per 40ft. For the Atlantic coast, the FBX reading for Asia to U.S. east and Gulf Coast ports dipped 4%, to $2,407 per 40ft.