The BC Maritime Employers Association says it has been told by a lawyer for the foremenÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s union that an industry-wide strike vote will take place in coming weeks.
The employersÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ group says the lawyer for ILWU Local 514 informed them of the vote this week after a case management meeting with the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
No one could immediately be reached for comment from the ship and dock foremanÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s union, whose 730 members work at British ColumbiaÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s ports.
An industrial relations board hearing that is set to resume on Aug. 6 comes after the union served notice of intended strike action against DP World Canada port facilities earlier this month.
The board ordered the union to rescind the strike notice, which the union said was in response to DP WorldÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s plans to introduce automation in the loading and unloading of cargo containers at its Centerm facility at the Port of Vancouver.
The employersÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ association says it has offered the union a 19.2-per-cent wage increase that would take the median forepersonÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s annual compensation to $293,617, not including benefits and pension.
It says the unionÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s lawyer told them the strike ballot would be completed by Aug. 9, and the association expected votes to take place at its membersÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ terminals across B.C. in coming days.