ILWU Files Lawsuit Against Canadian Government Over Strike Order

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 (ILWU) has taken legal action against the Canadian government, challenging its intervention to end the recent strike at ports in British Columbia.

The strike began on November 4 when negotiations between ILWU members and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) reached a deadlock.

The work stoppage continued until November 12, when the Canadian government stepped in, requiring port workers to return to their jobs. The intervention included a binding arbitration process announced by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), which workers were compelled to accept.

The ILWU has openly criticized the government's actions, accusing it of siding with employers and undermining workers' rights to collective bargaining. On November 19, the union filed a lawsuit claiming the order to resume operations violated their right to strike and their collective bargaining rights, both of which are protected under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The case will be reviewed by a CIRB panel during hearings scheduled for December 9 and 10.