Maritime employers says the impact of the B.C. port strike is spilling over internationally, as U.S. port workers refuse to handle containers rerouted from Vancouver to Seattle.

The BC Maritime Employers Association says the move further damages the 鈥渞eliability and competitiveness of West Coast ports up and down鈥� as the work stoppage drags on for a 10th day.

International Longshore and Warehouse Union International president Willie Adams told CNBC last week that members of the U.S. West Coast chapter of the union won鈥檛 be unloading Canadian-bound cargo in solidarity with the striking workers in B.C.

Adams told a rally in Vancouver on Sunday that anyone who thought they could offload Canada-bound cargo at Tacoma, Seattle, Oakland or Los Angeles should know that it 鈥渁in鈥檛 happening.鈥�

The workers and their employer held a round of bargaining over the weekend, the first talks since negotiations collapsed one week ago, but neither side is saying when, or if, more talks are planned.

About 7,400 members of the ILWU Canada have been on strike since July 1, idling all cargo handling at about 30 ports, including the Port of Vancouver, Canada鈥檚 busiest harbour.

Jurisdiction over maintenance, as well as improved wages and language to prevent contracting out and automation are key issues in the dispute.

The employers association said in its statement Monday that economic repercussions have been escalating.

鈥淲ith approximately $19 billion of containerized cargo moving through ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert every month 鈥� the potential impact of ongoing strike action on transpacific cargo flows is immense.鈥�

The employers association said in a previous statement, issued after the mediated talks on Saturday, that it made an offer to address dock workers鈥� demands to expand union jurisdiction over regular maintenance work at terminals.

The union has not responded publicly to the association鈥檚 proposal, but a union leader told the rally on Sunday that control over maintenance is a 鈥渓ine in the sand,鈥� and although longshore workers can鈥檛 prevent automation, they, not contractors, should make repairs if robots break.

Adams said Sunday that he was encouraging workers from around the world to meet ships coming to their docks and show they are united with Canadian strikers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2023.

The Canadian Press