The union representing foremen at British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 ports say members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize strike action if necessary in an ongoing labour dispute with port employers.

International Longshore and Warehouse Union害羞草研究所檚 Ship and Dock Foremen Local 514 says in a statement that members voted 96 per cent 害羞草研究所渋ndustry-wide害羞草研究所� in favour of authorizing a strike.

However, no 72-hour strike or lockout notice has been issued.

The union said previously that it had 害羞草研究所渘o interest in an industry-wide dispute害羞草研究所� since it wanted to negotiate with one employer 害羞草研究所� DP World Canada 害羞草研究所� directly on the issue of automation.

But the Canada Industrial Relations Board said the union can害羞草研究所檛 bargain with DP World alone, which the union says forced members to take an industry-wide vote.

Local 514 president Frank Morena says in a statement the union 害羞草研究所渄oes not seek to negotiate through the media害羞草研究所� but members want to fight back against what he describes as DP World害羞草研究所檚 attempt to lower existing minimum manning levels.

The B.C. Maritime Employers Association says in an update that it has made offers 害羞草研究所渙ver the last 16 months 害羞草研究所� that would have resulted in a competitive and balanced deal to ILWU Local 514 members害羞草研究所� with 害羞草研究所渟ignificant gains in wages and benefits without any concession requests from employers.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e remain committed to bargaining in good faith and seeking a balanced agreement that recognizes the hard work of the 730 forepersons on B.C.害羞草研究所檚 waterfront while ensuring West Coast ports remain competitive, resilient and affordable for all Canadians,害羞草研究所� the association says in its update.

Morena says the employers responded to a counter-offer by the union by filing a complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board, necessitating the union害羞草研究所檚 vote to authorize strike action.

害羞草研究所淟et me be clear on behalf of our membership: there will be no new collective agreements until the outstanding issues at the bargaining table are addressed,害羞草研究所� Morena says in his statement. 害羞草研究所淲e do not want a lockout or strike 害羞草研究所� we want a fair new contract.害羞草研究所�

The last agreement expired more than a year ago, in March 2023.

The union with more than 700 members says negotiations last year, this January and this summer all failed to deliver a new deal and the CIRB is now mediating.

Strike action in 2023 by thousands of workers in a separate dispute at B.C.害羞草研究所檚 ports shut down most operations for 13 days and froze billions in trade at the docks.

Then, in August, work stoppages at both major Canadian railways disrupted port operations again.

The employers害羞草研究所� association says the ongoing dispute with port foremen 害羞草研究所渄oes little to assure Canadians and global trading partners of supply chain stability.害羞草研究所�