ILWU, Canadian shipping group talks ongoing

ILWU, Canadian shipping group talks ongoing Bargaining talks between British Columbia Maritime Employers Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 are to continue on Thursday as the two sides seek to avert a labor strike of Canadian West Coast ports.
   While a media blackout remains in effect during the negotiations, the BCMEA said Jan. 9 that talks were continuing with some progress made in addressing issues on the table. Two Canadian federal government mediators are also involved in the talks.
   Local 514 represents 425 ship and dock foremen that service the Canadian West Coast ports, including Prince Rupert and Vancouver.
   The current BCMEA-Local 514 contract expired in March 2007 and the local had earlier threatened to walk out at the start of the new year. Either side is bound to provide up to 72 hours notice before calling a strike or lockout.
   While the union decided to continue with talks, the impact of the potential of a strike is already being felt.
   “Yes, absolutely there has been an impact on the ports,” Peter Xotta, vice president of business development for Port Metro Vancouver, told the Grainews. While declining to specify the exact magnitude of the impact due to the ongoing talks, Xotta said that even the threat of a strike has led to customers withholding cargo and diversions of ships to other ports.
   “The significance of Vancouver and the West Coast to the country’s trading ability goes beyond Vancouver and the participants involved. It is about our ability to trade to as a country. It is what we are known for and this sort of thing damages our reputation and anything that limits our ability to market that skill should be and is a concern to all of us,” Xotta told the online agriculture industry news site.