The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 began striking at West Coast Canadian ports on November 4 in response to the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) announcing port lockouts starting that afternoon to “ensure operations cease safely and orderly.” BCMEA argued that ILWU’s strike actions disrupted port operations and could escalate quickly. The lockout does not affect marinas or grain terminals.
Despite nearly two years of negotiations, BCMEA and ILWU have yet to reach a new collective agreement since the previous one expired in March 2023. ILWU Local 514 President Frank Morena stated that BCMEA is unwilling to compromise and prefers to create a crisis rather than negotiate. The lockout is seen as a move to pressure the federal government to intervene. Redirecting ships to other ports could cause congestion in Seattle, Oakland, and even Los Angeles-Long Beach.
