B.C. port workers strike hits Day 2 as mediation on hold

A strike at B.C. ports continued for a second day on Sunday as mediation efforts between the dockworkers and their employers were paused until Monday.

The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association’s Bargaining Committee told the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service officers of their intent to temporarily pause mediation for the evening after 33 hours of negotiations, the organization representing dockworker employers said in an update on its website.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union representing more than 7,000 dockworkers went on strike Saturday morning after federal-mediated negotiations failed. The strike threatens to disrupt millions of dollars of trade and add inflationary pressures to the Canadian economy.

“The Committee intends to reconvene bargaining tomorrow morning, providing an opportunity for both parties to recharge and re-energize in the interest of achieving a fair and balanced agreement as soon as possible,” the BCMEA said.