Alberta’s Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister said that a strike by dockworkers in British Columbia, which could take place any day, would have dire consequences for Alberta’s economy.
About 7,200 members of British Columbia’s International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) voted overwhelmingly in support of a strike last week.
Dockworkers are looking for higher pay and greater job security amid automation fears. 99.25 percent of ILWU voters authorized their union to strike against the Maritime Employers Association (MEA), as the two sides’ former agreement expired July 1, 2022.
Alberta’s Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen, said last week that a strike would be disastrous for the Albertan economy, calling for mediation from the feds.
“Alberta exports more than $40B worth of products through the Port of Vancouver. With a looming union strike the federal government needs to do whatever is necessary to prevent Canada’s busiest port from shutting down,” he said on Twitter.
Canada’s largest port, the Port of Vancouver, would be shut down by a strike, as well as the Port of Prince Rupert. Over $300 billion (CAD) worth of goods travel through Canada’s West Coast ports – accounting for about 16% of Canada’s internationally traded goods.
