The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (Canada) is conducting a vote among its members at ports in British Columbia regarding potential strike action due to a dispute with DP World (Canada).

This comes as ILWU Local 514 rejected in June a final offer from DP World (Canada) over a manning agreement and the introduction of automation. ILWU said then that the port operator put the Union on notice back in December 2023 that it was unilaterally going to introduce automation with respect to loading and unloading of cargo containers at their Rail Intermodal Yard at Centerm.

They argued that while DP World (Canada) negotiated a manning agreement with ILWU Local 500, it "refused to do so directly with Local 514."

The ILWU said in an earlier statement that "another significant, unresolved issue was to seek improvement to retiring allowances and retirement benefits."

On July 7, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) also deemed a local strike called by ILWU Local 514, illegal.

Hearings at the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) are scheduled to resume on August 6-9 related to DP World's manning proposal).

BCMEA said on July 25 that ILWU Local 514's legal counsel notified the Parties that the Union would be conducting an industry-wide strike vote, inclusive of all its members, in the coming weeks.

The Union noted that it will take at least until August 9, 2024, to complete the vote.

If union members vote in favour of a strike at ports across British Columbia, BCMEA said the ILWU must give 72 hours notice of the planned strike action.

"The BCMEA and ILWU Local 514 are set to resume the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) hearing from August 6 to August 9, 2024. This hearing will address the Union’s DP World (Canada) Inc. manning proposal, which the BCMEA alleges to be illegal, constituting the union bargaining in bad faith," BCMEA said.

"While regrettable, ILWU Local 514’s decision to proceed with an industry-wide strike vote is predictable, given the CIRB's July 7, 2024, decision which deemed the Union’s previous strike vote and related strike notice to DP World (Canada) Inc. illegal," it added.

Any strike action would impact the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, which are major container gateways on the Canadian West Coast, especially leading up to the traditional peak season months.

In July of last year, Canadian West Coast ports were paralyzed for 13 days due to a strike by ILWU (Canada) members over a four-year labour deal with the BCMEA, which was only resolved when the federal government intervened.