Canadian Labor Minister Steps In to End Port Lockouts

Canada’s labor minister, Steven MacKinnon, announced yesterday that he will intervene to resolve the ongoing lockouts affecting workers at the nation’s two largest ports. However, the dockworkers involved have pledged to challenge the decision in court.

MacKinnon has instructed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to mandate the immediate resumption of operations at the Vancouver and Montreal ports. He also directed that the stalled negotiations move to binding arbitration after several days of disruption.

“There is a limit to the economic self-destruction that Canadians are prepared to accept,” MacKinnon stated. “In the face of economic self-destruction, there is an obligation to intervene.”

This intervention follows the government’s earlier action to end disruptions at Canada’s two main railways in August.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514, which represents west coast dockworkers, announced its intention to legally contest both the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s directive and the minister’s decision for forced arbitration.

“The union will launch a charter challenge based on interference with the constitutional right to free collective bargaining and the right to strike as previously upheld in the Supreme Court of Canada,” the ILWU stated.

The Canadian Labour Congress criticized the government’s action, saying, “The government is sending a dangerous message: Employers can bypass meaningful negotiations, lock out their workers, and wait for political intervention to secure a more favorable deal.”