Joint Statement by Ministers O’Regan and Alghabra
Statement
June 28, 2023 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
Today, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Labour, and the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, issued the following statement regarding the collective bargaining negotiations between the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada:
“The BCMEA and the ILWU Canada are working to negotiate the renewal of their collective agreement, which expired on March 31, 2023. So far, they have been unable to reach an agreement. At 8:00 am this morning, the union gave notice of their intention to strike on July 1, 2023, starting at 8:00 am PDT.
We support the collective bargaining process because the best deals are made at the bargaining table. That is our focus here.
We strongly encourage the parties to get back to the bargaining table and work together to reach an agreement. That is what matters most right now.
Everyone — the employer, the union, the mediators, and the government — understands the urgency and what is at stake for Canadians and our supply chains. The parties are responsible for moving goods both nationally and internationally, and industries and consumers would feel the effects of a work stoppage.
Senior mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service are meeting with the parties and will keep supporting negotiations until an agreement is reached.”
Associated Link
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
- 30 -
Contacts
For media enquiries, please contact:
Hartley Witten
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr.
Minister of Labour
343-575-1065
hartley.witten@labour-travail.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter
Nadine Ramadan
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport
nadine.ramadan@tc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Transport Canada
media@tc.gc.ca
613-993-0055
Page details
- Date modified: