The B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) has served lockout notice to port workers effective Thursday morning in response to stalled contract negotiations.
The union says a lockout would shut "down the entire West Coast shipping industry," affecting the Port of Vancouver and every other facility across B.C. that is a member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), including around 20 facilities and 7,000 workers.
Cruise and grain workers would not be included.
Jeff Scott, board chair of the BCMEA, said while no talks are scheduled for before Thursday, the employers are seeking mediation and are open to more negotiations. A lockout could take effect as early at 8 a.m. PT that day.
"It's a significant action and it's not something we take lightly; we would rather be at the bargaining table," Scott said.
"We recognize the importance of keeping the ports open for business. We know the economic impact to the B.C. economy and the Canadian economy."
Scott said the impact on the Canadian economy would amount to about $5 billion a day, and $540 billion worth of cargo would be affected...
This was excerpted from the 28 May 2019 edition of CBC News.