by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

Canada's West Coast union, the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514, issued an industry-wide notice of a strike starting Monday, 4 November, at 8:00 a.m. local time.

The strike will impact major ports, including Vancouver Port and Prince Rupert Port.

According to a statement issued by the British Columbia Employer's Association (BCMEA), the association decided to take a "defensive action in the form of a coastwide lockout" in response to the strike.

The BCMEA highlighted that ILWU Local 514's strike action would affect all waterfront operations in British Columbia and has the potential to evolve into a full-scale, unannounced labour withdrawal. 

"Accordingly, to facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations, the BCMEA has issued formal notice of its intention to defensively lock out all ILWU Local 514 members on Monday, November 4 at or around 09:00 am PT. Should it be required, this coastwide lockout will shut down all cargo operations of BCMEA Member companies across the province. It will not affect longshoring operations on grain vessels or cruise operations," says the association.

The ILWU and the BCMEA have been bargaining since the current coastwide agreement expired on 31 March 2023, and the strike follows the failure to reach a mutual agreement.

This event coincides with an indefinite strike at the Port of Montreal, which started on Thursday, 31 October 2024.