Today marks the sixth day of strikes at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, two of Canada’s key hubs for maritime trade.

Negotiations between the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and the International Longshore & Warehouse Union of Canada (ILWU Canada) were paused on Monday after both parties left the negotiation table.

The BCMEA urged the union to modify its position, claiming bargaining "is not going to produce a collective agreement." The association later issued a statement saying the ILWU “has not indicated a willingness to modify their position,” while they remain “ready to re-engage at a moment’s notice, assuming that ILWU Canada is prepared to put forward a reasonable proposal.”

Yesterday, the BCMEA announced the strike action has potentially disrupted $3.7 billion of cargo – automotive parts, refrigerated food, fertilizer, critical minerals and goods. “What is clear now is that the safety and security of Canada’s supply chain is at imminent risk,” added the association.

ILWU Canada President Rob Ashton has called on the BCMEA "to get back to the table," reports Freight Waves. Ashton said in a statement. “If the association will not negotiate, we call on the member employers to negotiate directly with the union. A negotiated settlement is possible, and we are capable of getting the job done.”

While the two parties are not engaging in one-on-one talks, they are speaking to mediators who have been assisting the process from the beginning. Government officials have also urged the two sides to return to the table for a resolution.

According to a report by MSNBC, “289,700 freight containers are stranded on water valued at $19 billion.” Seaexplorer data shows that the 7-day average waiting time for vessels is 2.4 days at the Port of Vancouver, while container dwell times reached 8 days.