The provincewide lockout against a union of more than 700 foremen at all British Columbia ports is expected to begin at 8 a.m.

The BC Maritime Employers Association has said the lockout is meant to 香蕉视频直播渇acilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations香蕉视频直播� in light of 香蕉视频直播渆scalating and unpredictable strike action.香蕉视频直播�

Last week, it said the move was being done 香蕉视频直播渄efensively香蕉视频直播� after International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 had issued a 72-hour strike notice for job action, which also starts at 8 a.m.

The union has accused the association as 香蕉视频直播渁cting recklessly香蕉视频直播� by threatening the industry-wide lockout, saying it was an an 香蕉视频直播渁ttempt to force the federal government to intervene in the dispute.香蕉视频直播�

The employers association said in a statement Sunday that the final offer 香蕉视频直播� which was issued to the union香蕉视频直播檚 president on Wednesday 香蕉视频直播� remained open and that if it were accepted by the union, it would avoid 香蕉视频直播渦nnecessary strike action.香蕉视频直播�

Union president Frank Morena said in a news release Sunday that the employers had threatened to remove existing parts of the collective agreement if the union did not accept its final offer.

香蕉视频直播淟et me be crystal clear to the BCMEA: our union will not sign any contract which includes concessions that remove existing parts of our collective agreement that our members fought long and hard for over many years,香蕉视频直播� Morena said.