Strikes at the Canadian West Coast ports have been put off, ending threats of further supply chain disruptions at the country's busiest ports.

The announcement came as the Canada port labour actions resumed on July 18 after ILWU Canada members rejected the tentative wage agreement agreed upon with BCMEA the week prior, which ended a 13-day strike that halted cargo movements at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

"Effective immediately, the strike notice dated July 22 for 9:00 am has now been removed," said Rob Ashton, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada, on July 19.

The ILWU Canada chief, however, did not elaborate further on the reason for the cancellation of the strike action in the statement he issued.

The union earlier announced the resumption of the strike as ILWU Canada rejected the tentative agreement with British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA).

"The ILWU Canada Longshore Caucus has voted down the Mediators Recommended Terms of Settlement. The ILWU Canada Longshore Caucus does not believe the recommendations had the ability to protect our jobs now or into the future," Ashton said on July 18.

The Port of Vancouver said on July 19 that the ILWU Canada "served a 72-hour strike notice to the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) today, July 19."

It added that the notice enables legal strike action to commence effective 0900 PST, Saturday, July 22, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) issued Order No.: 1460-NB, which determined that a 72-hour strike notice was required for strike activity to recommence.

"The CIRB declared that an unlawful strike occurred on July 18. ILWU labour is expected to return to work effective 1630 PST, July 19," it said.

On July 1, around 7,000 dockworkers who are members of the ILWU Canada went on strike at the West Canada ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert as the union and the BCMEA were unable to come to an agreement on negotiations.

The strike prevented shipments from entering or leaving 30 ports in British Columbia, including the largest port in Canada, the Port of Vancouver, after failing to reach a new work contract with the BCMEA — which represents the companies involved.

The industrial action also impacted the Port of Prince Rupert, also one of Canada's three busiest ports. 

Estimates put the port disruption to have affected more than US$9.3 billion of trade since the start of the strike action, according to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.