The president of the BC Chamber of Commerce Wednesday (July 5) has joined the chorus of business leaders calling for a speedy resolution of the strike affecting more than 30 B.C. ports, including the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Prince Rupert.

Fiona Famulak, president and chief executive of the BC Chamber of Commerce, called on International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the BC Maritime Employers Association to resume negotiations.

鈥淭he continued shutdown of Canada鈥檚 busiest and third busiest ports, where as much as $800 million worth of cargo is moved daily, is untenable,鈥� Famulak said. 鈥淓very day the job action remains unresolved increases impacts on Canadians, businesses and our economy. Without swift resolution, this strike will become dire for every organization that relies on international supply chains to produce, supply and sell goods or services.鈥�

Famulak also addressed her appeal to the federal government, which has been working with both sides through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

鈥淚f negotiations do not bring resolution to the labour action, the federal government must act with urgency to facilitate an end to the strike,鈥� she said.

Famulak鈥檚 appeal is the latest in a series of appeals from leading business organizations inside and outside of British Columbia.

More than 7,000 workers went on strike Saturday night following months of negotiations, which have gone from difficult to non-existent.

BCMEA issued a statement on Monday (July 3) that 鈥渁 continuation of bargaining at this time is not going to produce a collective agreement鈥� in calling on ILWU to change course. 鈥淩ather than work towards an equitable deal, ILWU Canada seems to have entrenched their positions,鈥� it reads. 鈥淭he BCMEA has gone as far as possible on core issues.鈥�

ILWU responded on Tuesday (July 4) by saying that BCMEA is 鈥渄eaf to the real and legitimate concerns of the (union)鈥� in accusing BCMEA of misrepresenting the union鈥檚 position on the question of who gets to do maintenance work.

BCMEA has said that ILWU wants to expand the scope and definition of maintenance work while ILWU has accused employers of failing to properly use union members.

ILWU also used its statement called on BCMEA to return to the bargaining table, while also proposing to meet directly with employers.

Transportation Rob Fleming said during an unrelated event in Greater Victoria Tuesday (July 4) that the issue is a federal one, adding that the provincial government had hoped that both sides would have reached an agreement. 

鈥淭his disruption is huge to a number of economic sectors in B.C.,鈥� he said. He praised both sides for excluding cruise ship and grain traffic from the dispute, but expressed hope that the dispute would be resolved as quickly as possible.

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O鈥橰egan said Tuesday on social media that federal mediators continue to support BCMEA and ILWU in their negotiations.

鈥淲e encourage both parties to immediately return to the bargaining table and remain there until a deal is reached,鈥� he said. 鈥淐ollective bargaining is hard work but it鈥檚 how the best, most resilient deals are made.鈥�

The Port of Vancouver is Canada鈥檚 largest, home to 29 terminals operating in 16 municipalities across Metro Vancouver. According to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the responsible federal agency, the port handles $1 of every $3 of Canada鈥檚 trade outside of North America. As a gate to 170 countries, the port sustains 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada.

Here are some key facts in the dispute:

* The union represents workers who load and unload cargo at terminals at more than 30 B.C. ports, including Canada鈥檚 busiest, the Port of Vancouver.

* The association represents 49 private-sector employers and its website says the industry contributes $2.7 billion to Canada鈥檚 GDP while handling roughly 16 per cent of the country鈥檚 total traded goods.

* The union鈥檚 previous contract expired at the end of March after negotiations aimed at reaching a new deal began in February.

* In early June, union members voted 99.24 per cent in favour of authorizing strike action if required.

* Workers walked off the job Saturday and contract talks stalled Monday, with the union saying the employers had changed their position on a key issue.

* A statement from the union on Tuesday said the key issue holding up a deal is the contracting out of maintenance work by employers. It said the employers鈥� association and its member companies had refused to agree on a regular maintenance document that is complete except for one sentence.

* The employers鈥� association said Monday that it didn鈥檛 believe more bargaining would produce a deal and said the union was being unreasonable when it came to compensation.

* The union has previously said contracting out, port automation and the cost of living are key issues in the dispute.

鈥� The Canadian Press

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