Western Canada port strike deadline extended
A union representing Canada's Pacific Coast union dock foremen and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association agreed to continue their talks this Saturday, avoiding a potentially crippling port strike that could have started as early as Friday, Jan. 2.
The union foremen, members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 based near Vancouver, have been without a contract since March 2007 and can legally strike as of Jan. 2. A strike would impact the two major Canadian Pacific Coast ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert.
According to Lloyd's List, the potential strike as 'already induced some shippers to divert cargo to the U.S. Pacific northwest ports of Seattle and Tacoma.'
