B.C. port employers release details of final offer to foremen union

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The B.C. Maritime Employers Association has released the details of its final offer to the union representing more than 700 foremen ahead of a looming lockout on Monday.

The offer, which is dated Wednesday and addressed to International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 President Frank Morena, was released publicly on Saturday.

It includes a 19.2 per cent increase over the four year agreement — which would be from April 2023 until March 31, 2027 — as well as a 16 per cent increase to the retirement benefit.

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It also has a 10 per cent increase to employer contributions to the welfare plan, additional recognized holidays, increased meal and boot allowances, and an average $21,000 lump sum for eligible employees that includes backpay since the contract expired.

The employers association said in its email to Morena that it has been bargaining with the union for nearly two years to renew the collective agreement that expired in March 2023.

“This prolonged bargaining process with multiple strike votes and an attempted strike in July 2024 has undermined confidence in West Coast port operations,” the email said, adding that the offer represents its “sincere commitment to concluding negotiations.”

“The BCMEA’s final offer to the union represents our best effort to settle the dispute and move forward with an agreement that recognizes the skills and efforts of 730 hardworking forepersons and their families, while also ensuring Canada’s West Coast ports remain reliable and stable for the many customers and supply chain partners who conduct business here,” it said.

Morena was not immediately available to comment, but previously said workers are “extremely angry” over the employers’ refusal to bargain major issues, such as staffing requirements while more automation is introduced at the ports, and the lockout is an “attempt to force the federal government to intervene in the dispute.”

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In a news release from the employers on Saturday, it said the “final offer provides a fair and reasonable monetary package without seeking concessions from the union.” It also accused the union of failing to “meaningfully” consider the offer and opting for a strike notice.

On Thursday, the union issued the 72-hour notice for job action that will start Monday at 8 a.m. The move then prompted the employers association to issue a formal notice that it will “defensively” lock out members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 starting the same time.

The union accused the employers of missing negotiations on Thursday, the last scheduled day of mediated talks, and also failing to notify others that they would not be participating.

The employers association said its final offer to the union remains open for workers to accept unless it is withdrawn, and the group is prepared to rescind the lockout notice if the union withdraws its strike notice.

There have already been a number of recent disruptions at the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port, due to labour unrest. That includes a days-long picketing effort at several grain terminals in September, a work stoppage involving both major Canadian railways in August, and a port worker strike last year that lasted 13 days and froze billions in trade at the docks.

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Expanded job action on Thursday at the Port of Montreal also shut down two container terminals, stopping 40 per cent of the container capacity at Canada’s second largest port.

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