In a show of solidarity with their Canadian counterparts, US West Coast dockers are refusing to handle cargoes diverted from the Canadian west coast, where port workers have staged industrial action.
In a statement to CNBC, International Longshore & Warehouse Union US West Coast president Willie Adams said, "The ILWU will not be unloading Canadian bound cargo in solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters in ILWU Canada.”
There are concerns that logistical bottlenecks, a common occurrence during the Covid-19 pandemic period, could recur, with 16 vessels currently anchored off Vancouver and another six ships at Prince Rupert. Another 15 ships are bound for Vancouver and nine for Prince Rupert, and the ILWU has vowed not to work on these ships should the vessels divert to the US West Coast.
Vessel-tracking data shows that the 8,819 TEU MSC Sara Elena, originally bound for Vancouver, has diverted to Oakland, expecting to arrive on 13 July, while OOCL San Francisco remains around Seattle instead of setting out for Vancouver.
ILWU Canada members have been on strike since 2 July, after negotiations between the union and British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) broke down early this month.
In a Twitter post on 10 July, Canadian National Railway urged both sides to end the impasse, noting that "it's crucial that both parties and the federal government do what is necessary to avoid further disruption to Canada’s supply chains."
BCMEA said on 8 July that it had resumed discussions with ILWU Canada, during which the association introduced a revised proposal to overcome skilled trade shortages while also addressing the union's hopes to expand its jurisdiction over regular terminal maintenance workers.
BCMEA said it is committed to increasing benefits for casual workers, boosting industry apprenticeships by at least 15% and creating tool allowance benefits for trade workers.
The association said, "The most recent proposal shows the BCMEA’s commitment to reach an agreement. We believe a deal can be reached if ILWU Canada wants one. We know that the best deals are made at the table, and this is exactly what we are proposing the parties do.”
Martina Li
Correspondent
