BC Ports in Limbo as Union Removes Strike Notice Despite Dispute With Employers

Gantry cranes sit idle as a container ship is docked at port during a work stoppage, in Vancouver, on July 19, 2023. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

The fallout from the labour dispute at British Columbia ports continues to unfold, as the union representing about 7,400 workers abruptly rescinded a strike notice hours after issuing it.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stepped up action in the federal response to B.C. ports potentially shutting down again in the dispute between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and the BC Maritime Employers Association, convening an incident response group typically gathered at times of “national crisis” or events with major implications for Canada.