Statement: Federal government must intervene to end industrial action at B.C. ports

The Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC) represents over 200 of the province’s largest employers across a range of industries. We are deeply concerned about the labour dispute between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 and the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA). Industrial action has shut down operations at British Columbia's ports, which are vital to our province's and nation's economies. 

The shutdown of West Coast ports endangers approximately $800 million in daily trade in goods. This represents around 25 per cent of Canada’s daily merchandise trade and will affect businesses, workers and consumers across the country. After several years of runaway inflation, households have borne a more than 20 per cent increase in the overall cost of consumer goods and services since 2019. They can scarcely afford more price increases caused by the costly shutdown of B.C.’s ports for the second year in a row. 

We acknowledge the complexities of labour negotiations and the importance of reaching fair agreements for all parties involved. We encourage both sides to bargain in good faith, engage in constructive dialogue, and work diligently towards a resolution that ensures the stability of our supply chains and the well-being of our economy. 

However, those negotiations having failed, we now call upon the federal government to intervene to reach a swift settlement. Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner has diminished in recent years as intermittent industrial actions have disrupted critical port, rail and other trade infrastructure. Shippers may see Canada as a “weak link” in their supply chains and seek to avoid moving goods through this country given the time, cost and uncertainty around them becoming stranded. All parties should seek to avoid this outcome. 

We call on the federal government to use all available tools to resolve the current dispute. 

Longer term, we also look forward to the recommendations of the Industrial Inquiry Commission on labour disputes at Canada’s West Coast ports due in Spring 2025. We hope that a better way can be found for parties to collectively bargain and resolve disputes without resorting to industrial actions that risk damaging the well-being of consumers, workers and businesses across the rest of the economy.