Port workings in Prince Rupert were ordered back to work by the Federal Labour Minister, Steven MacKinnon while binding arbitration talks take place between the International Longshore Warehouse Union and the BC Maritime Employers Association, which represents federal port operators across B.C.
In Prince Rupert, ILWU Local 514 and 505, which represent union workers at two of Prince Rupert’s port terminals, say that Minister MacKinnon is treating “ILWU workers unfairly, which is why the union is challenging the ministers order for binding arbitration in federal court under a Charter of Rights challenge,” according to a press release.
Although negotiations between the BCMEA and the ILWU union have been ongoing for months, at the beginning of November, talks broke down, forcing the Federal government to take action.
