Employers, ILWU Resume Contract Talks at Vancouver

(Journal of Commerce Online – Courtney Tower)

Employers and foremen represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union returned to contract negotiations Friday in Vancouver facing the possibility of a strike at western Canadian ports as early as January 2.

“The employers are looking for a signal of willingness [by the 450 ship and dock foremen] to pick up the pace of the negotiations,” said Greg Vurdela, vice president of the British Columbia Maritime Employers’ Association. “We will know that when we sit down at 9.30 a.m. [local time] whether there is a sign of hope for a resolution,” he said.

Vurdela spoke as employers broke a media blackout during the talks, which adjourned Monday when no progress was made with the union, which represents 5,160 port employees. The union members have been working without a contract since March, 2007, and negotiations have moved desultorily since April, 2008.

A strike or lockout would halt container-handling at Vancouver, Canada’s busiest gateway for Asia imports, and Prince Rupert, a growing entry point for Asia trade moving to the U.S. Midwest.

Employers in the new contract want to introduce new technology on the docks in order to modernize work processes and improve efficiencies. A similar demand to call dockworkers electronically instead of by historic union hall morning calls was settled earlier this year.

The ILWU continues to refrain from commenting, but it is known that after talks failed to progress Monday, both sides sought and received reaffirmation from their memberships of their negotiating positions.

Friday’s bargaining is taking place under the auspices of two federal mediators, who for the first time will take a more active role in the talks. Read more here.