B.C. Ports Resume Operations Amid Labour Dispute

Operations at British Columbia's ports are set to resume following federal intervention in a labor dispute that resulted in a lockout of over 1,900 port workers. Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon invoked his authority to end the lockouts and mandated binding arbitration after negotiations stalled. The BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) announced that dispatching functions would restart on November 14, while maintenance operations would follow later. The locked-out workers, represented by the International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 514 and CUPE, plan to contest the government's intervention. The employers proposed a wage increase of 19% over four years, but job security in the face of automation remains a contentious issue. A hearing by the Canada Industrial Relations Board is scheduled to address various concerns related to the ministerial direction.