How tentative is a tentative labour agreement?
Canada’s West Coast ports have found out, as dockworkers have decided to go back on strike less than a week after reaching a tentative deal that reopened terminals in British Columbia province.
A caucus of the International Longshore Workers Union Canada has voted down the deal that saw negotiations on both sides of the dispute adopt a settlement recommended by a federal government mediator called in to resolve the strike.
The decision by the ILWU Canada Longshore Caucus means the tentative deal will not be put before union membership for a full vote.
“The ILWU Canada Longshore Caucus does not believe the recommendations had the ability to protect our jobs now or into the future,” said union president Rob Ashton.
The BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA), made up of shipping companies and terminal operators at ports stretching from Victoria to the Alaska border, had ratified the agreement on Thursday, the same day the tentative deal was forged.
“This fair and comprehensive package could not satisfy some of ILWU internal caucus leadership, and in rejecting this tentative agreement, ILWU Leadership is choosing to further harm Canada’s economy, international reputation and most importantly, to Canadians, their livelihoods and all those that rely on a stable supply chain,” the employers group said.
The BCMEA said the proposed four-year deal included wage increases that were about 10% bigger than those in the expired three-year deal, in addition to protecting the union from contracting out work, training improvement and a 15% increase in apprenticeships, among other items.
“With the record profits that the BCMEA’s member companies have earned over the last few years the employers have not addressed the cost of living issues that our workers have faced over the last couple of years as all workers have,” he said.
“The term of the collective agreement that was given with today’s uncertain times, is far too long. We must be able to readdress the uncertainty in the world’s financial markets for our members.”
Workers returned to picket lines Tuesday afternoon.
Before the tentative deal, ports were shuttered for 13 days.
The collapse of the agreement comes as ports at 29 ports on the US West Coast are also covered under a tentative deal with the ILWU in that country, after some terminals were shut down during collective bargaining contract renewal negotiations.
