VANCOUVER, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Calls grew on Tuesday for the Canadian government to intervene in the west coast labor dispute that has blocked most shipments through one of North America’s busiest ports, but no negotiations have been scheduled.
The lockout of workers in Vancouver and Canada’s other smaller Pacific coast ports has retailers warning of higher prices for Christmas and grain traders complaining of lost sales even though most grain shipments are not affected.
The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, which began the lockout Sunday, on Tuesday ruled out negotiations until the workers drop what the association complains are unfair “preconditions” to a contract agreement.
The “precondition” cited by the association, is a demand by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union that a company that transports sulfur through Vancouver be required to use unionized cargo testers when loading ships.
“The union’s attempt to bring this into the coast-wide collective bargaining simply will not fly,” said Bob Wilds, president of the association, which represents more than 70 maritime employers.
Union officials, who have maintained a low-profile since the lockout began, were not available for comment on Tuesday. They have demanded that employers end the lockout and resume negotiations.
The lockout has stopped the loading an unloading of nearly C$90 million in shipments, such as cargo containers, potash, sulfur, containerized grain, timber products, pulp, petrochemicals, oil, general cargo and some coal.
Container shipping lines have diverted their vessels to Seattle and U.S. ports, but the Retail Council of Canada has warned the higher cost of using non-Canadian facilities will make some holiday goods more expensive.
The lockout order does not affect bulk grain shipments, but international buyers were reported shying away from purchasing Canadian grain because of the dispute - the latest in a series of recent labor problems at Vancouver’s port.
“The long history of disruptions at the port indicates to me a systemic problem in the way labor relations are conducted in Vancouver,” the province of Alberta complained in a letter calling on federal official intervene.
Vancouver is the primary outlet for winter wheat crop. It is the Canada’s busiest port and primary export link to Asia, handling more cargo than the country’s three largest Atlantic ports combined.
The federal government has assigned mediators to meet with the employers and union, but resisted calls to order an end to the dispute. Parliament is not sitting this week and Prime Minister Jean Cretien is out of the country.
“We call on both sides to return to the bargain table,” said Emily Thomas, spokeswoman for Minister of Labor Claudette Bradshaw.
Thomas said the government was “encouraged” by the comments from the union and employers, although she admitted she was unaware of the association’s refusal on Tuesday to resume negotiations.
