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.

May 1, 2023 – The national strike is now over for members of the PA, SV, TC and EB bargaining groups, who are required to return to work May 1 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time or their next scheduled shift. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) says strike action continues for 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency workers nationwide, with contract negotiations ongoing.

April 17, 2023 – The country’s largest federal public service union says if a deal isn’t reached with the federal government by 9 pm EDT on Tuesday, it will launch a strike the next day. The Public Service Alliance of Canada says some 155,000 employees are prepared to walk off the job beginning Wednesday, including 35,000 workers from the Canada `Revenue Agency. Mediated contract negotiations between the union and the Treasury Board continued over the weekend in what the union described as the government’s final chance to reach a deal.

April 10, 2023 – Terminals at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach effectively shut down as a result of a local longshore labour action that began Thursday evening. The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents West Coast port employers, said a local union at the twin portswithheld some labour for the evening shift on Thursday, leading to widespread labour shortages that halted operations. The actions continued, leading to closures on Friday morning as well. This has been a sudden escalation in an overall peaceful period as negotiations continue on a new contract.

April 3, 2023 – After the ILWU filed a notice of dispute to Canada’s Minister of Labour, two conciliation officers from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service were appointed to this matter last week. The conciliation officers have a 60-day mandate from the day of appointment. An extension beyond 60 days can be made by mutual consent of the parties. At the end of the conciliation period, a 21-day cooling-off period would begin, if required.

March 27, 2023 – A rail strike in Germany today is expected to cause delays and rail freight disruptions, with freight forwarders and shippers calling for flexibility on timings to help the movement of goods, with more disruptions in France also expected. The latest action follows a port pilots’ strike, which ended on Friday morning, and disruption in France as demonstrators protest against the president’s plan to extend the pensionable age. Meanwhile, sources in France have warned that strikers and protesters in France do not have to give notice, as they do in other countries. This means that, although the unions have not notified the authorities of further action, the expectation is that more protests are coming. In addition, Israel’s main airport has been shut down due to ongoing strikes in that country as well.