Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon orders binding arbitration on Montreal and BC ports disputes

After breakdowns in negotiations and lockouts at the ports of Montreal and British Columbia, Canada’s Labour Minister has directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the resumption of operations and facilitate resolution through binding arbitration.

Minister MacKinnon has also extended existing collective agreements until new ones are reached and reiterated the importance of negotiated agreements as the ideal outcome, but stated his responsibility to act in the public’s interest to minimize economic disruptions and protect Canadians.

After rounds of failed negotiations and rejected offers, the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) locked out more than 700 workers at the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Nanaimo on November 4th. Similarly, the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) locked out approximately 1,200 longshore workers at the port of Montreal on November 11th.