On June 9, CIFFA wrote a letter to several ministers and the Prime Minister\u2019s office to draw attention to the ongoing labour negotiations at Canada\u2019s West Coast ports.<\/p>\n
The BCMEA and ILWU are negotiating two coastwide collective agreements on behalf of the Longshore Locals and Local 514 Ship and Dock Foremen.<\/p>\n
The parties participated in a conciliation process that has now ended and they are currently in a 21-day \u201ccooling off\u201d period. There is not much evidence of coolness, unfortunately, and the union authorized a strike vote to start on June 9.<\/p>\n
CIFFA\u2019s 300-plus members\u00a0regard this situation as one of the most significant impacts on Canada\u2019s economy, with the potential to create very significant disruptions, which would undoubtedly increase consumer costs, fueling additional inflation, and severely impact businesses relying on imports of equipment or exports of products.<\/p>\n
CIFFA is urging the federal government to ensure this bargaining process is well-supported and that government be proactive and swift in taking action to protect Canadian business and consumers.<\/p>\n