Canada's Minister of Labor intervenes in port disputes

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Canadian Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon took steps Tuesday to intervene in labor disputes at the ports of Montreal, Vancouver and Quebec City by asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to end the work stoppages and impose binding arbitration lay.

“As economic losses threaten the country and begin to mount, it is up to the government to ensure that… we can continue the economic life of this country and avoid layoffs and other carnage,” Reuters reports that MacKinnon told this during a press conference. “Canadians currently have a limited tolerance for economic self-harm.”

It would take a few days for the CIRB to issue the relevant orders, MacKinnon said.

In fact, the agency acted quickly. The next day at 4:35 p.m., the BC Marine Employers Association published this statement:

“This morning, the Canada Industrial Relations Board issued an order directing the BCMEA and all its members to resume operations on November 14, 2024 and to continue their activities and duties until the Board makes a final decision.

“The BCMEA will fully comply with the CIRB interim order. Therefore, the dispatching functions will start in the day shift from Thursday, November 14, 2024. Maintenance and operations may commence in the 4:30 pm shift and depend on the operational realities of the individual terminal.

“With the resumption of work, coupled with an expected high volume of vessels and cargo, there will be expanded province-wide labor needs in all port areas.

“In partnership with our member employers, the BCMEA is committed to working closely with ILWU Local 514, ILWU longshore locals and supply chain partners to safely and efficiently resume operations at Canada’s West Coast ports.

“The CIRB has scheduled a hearing for Monday, November 18, 2024, to hear from the parties on certain questions that have arisen regarding the ministerial directives under section 107 of the Canada Labor Code.”

PORT OF MONTREAL

Yesterday the Association of Maritime Employers, which ihas instituted a lockout at the port of Montreal, said the CIRB had issued an order for operations to resume at the port, effective from 7am on Saturday.

“The Association of Maritime Employers will act on the orders of the CIRB to allow port operators to resume operations. Port employees will receive their assignments for the next day from Friday at 6 p.m. “The MEA will work closely with the Longshoremen’s Union, CUPE Local 375, its members, the Montréal Port Authority and all other supply chain partners to ensure that operations at the Port of Montreal can resume safely and efficiently.