CIAC urges parties to come to an agreement and keep B.C. ports open 

November 01, 2024

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC) urges the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 (ILWU Local 514) to come together and reach an agreement to keep goods moving at B.C. ports.  

The union representing foremen at British Columbia ports, ILWU Local 514, has issued a 72-hour strike notice, while the BCMEA has issued a lockout notice for 9 am PT, if a deal cannot be reached with the help of a federal mediator.  

“The operations at the west coast ports are vital to the entire Canadian economy and are an essential part of international supply chains. Even the threat of a work stoppage results in supply chain disruptions. This will put pressure on chemistry that ships through the west coast only weeks after both Class 1 railways were shut down. This level of uncertainty further strains Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner,” said Bob Masterson, president and CEO of CIAC. 

“Our members, who supply Canada with good-paying jobs and the products Canadians and other industries need, require stability in their supply chains, as do their customers. That is why we are urging BCMEA and ILWU Local 514 to come together and keep goods moving. We also urge the federal government to engage directly with the parties and prepare a suite of actions that can be used to avoid a detrimental work stoppage of any length.” 

Combined, shipments of the chemistry and plastic products sectors in 2023 were valued at $109 billion; exports were valued at $62.9 billion. The chemistry and plastics industry is directly responsible for 192,700 jobs. In 2023, there was more than $8 billion of chemistry and plastic products traded through the west coast – about $22 million each day.  

A work stoppage at the ports will have significant, immediate, and negative impacts for Canadian consumers and the Canadian economy. CIAC believes that a negotiated solution is always the preferred outcome; but, if this fails, we urge the federal government to take early action to prevent even more serious damage to the Canadian economy.