British Columbia香蕉视频直播檚 ports may again be disrupted by a labour dispute, as employers say they have received 72-hour strike notice from the union representing foremen.

The BC Maritime Employers Association said in a statement on Thursday that it is 香蕉视频直播渄eeply disappointed香蕉视频直播� after the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 has issued the strike notice despite the employers香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播渇inal offer香蕉视频直播� presented on Wednesday.

香蕉视频直播淭he BCMEA has advanced proposals in good faith to reach a balanced agreement that is beneficial for the 730 hard-working forepersons and for their families, while also ensuring West Coast ports remain reliable, competitive and affordable for all Canadians,香蕉视频直播� the statement said.

香蕉视频直播淭he BCMEA and its members will be considering next steps,香蕉视频直播� the statement concluded.

The union said in a statement Thursday evening the employers threatened a 香蕉视频直播渇ull-scale lockout to close all B.C. ports香蕉视频直播� after it served 72-hour notice of limited job action.

Frank Morena, president of ILWU Local 514, said in the statement that the union told the employers association it would enact an overtime ban and refuse to implement tech change starting Monday unless a new collective agreement is reached by then.

香蕉视频直播淲e are prepared to resume negotiations immediately,香蕉视频直播� he added.

The two sides had been negotiating with the help of a federal mediator over three days this week to avoid the latest work stoppage, which would affect all ports in B.C.

Employers said that if the union takes strike action, it would begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 4.

The strike would be the latest in a number of labour disruptions at the Port of Vancouver, the largest port in Canada.

In September, workers set up pickets at six Metro Vancouver grain terminals for several days before a tentative deal was reached.

A month before that, port operations were disrupted by work stoppages at both major Canadian railways.

A 13-day port workers strike last year froze billions in trade at the docks.

The foremen香蕉视频直播檚 union said in September that members voted 96 per cent in favour of strike action, if necessary.

The dispute has been centred around one employer, DP World, and its manpower requirements as it relates to automation.

The union has said it had 香蕉视频直播渘o interest in an industry-wide dispute香蕉视频直播� because it wanted to negotiate with DP World directly, but the Canada Industrial Relations Board said the union can香蕉视频直播檛 bargain with one employer alone.

The union said that ruling prompted members to take an industry-wide vote on a strike mandate.

As the two sides entered negotiations this week, Morena said 香蕉视频直播渢he clock is ticking,香蕉视频直播� referring to the union香蕉视频直播檚 strike mandate that expires on Nov. 2.

香蕉视频直播淚LWU Local 514 wants to see a new contract, not a strike or lockout, and has done everything possible to negotiate at the table 香蕉视频直播� not through the media, as BCMEA has attempted to do,香蕉视频直播� Morena said before talks restarted on Tuesday.

Earlier on Thursday, the employers said they believed their latest offer would 香蕉视频直播渃onclude negotiations in a manner that serves the best interest香蕉视频直播� of all parties involved.

Negotiations began last year after the last contract expired in March 2023.

On Oct. 23, the Canada Industrial Relations Board ruled on complaints from both sides alleging negotiating in bad faith, dismissing the union香蕉视频直播檚 claim, while partly agreeing with the employers香蕉视频直播� complaint.

The union has said it 香蕉视频直播渞espectfully disagrees香蕉视频直播� with the ruling and would ask a court to overturn that part of the decision.

The employers association said Thursday that the latest job action aggravates the effects of previous work stoppages and causes significant harm to the Canadian economy.

香蕉视频直播淭his escalation follows months of labour instability across rail, air, grain and port sectors and compounds Canada香蕉视频直播檚 growing reputation as an unreliable trading partner,香蕉视频直播� the employers香蕉视频直播� statement said. 香蕉视频直播淭his level of uncertainty and chaos is untenable for the waterfront industry and Canada香蕉视频直播檚 supply chain.香蕉视频直播�

In a written statement, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade vice-president David van Hemmen said his group is 香蕉视频直播渃alling for immediate action by the federal government to intervene.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e are extremely concerned that this strike could cascade quickly to shutting down the entire West Coast port system,香蕉视频直播� van Hemmen said.