Canada orders binding arbitration to end port lockout

Canada’s Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has stepped in to end the ongoing lockouts at the country’s two largest ports, citing the economic impact on the country’s supply chains and reputation as a reliable trading partner. In a statement on Tuesday, MacKinnon announced that negotiations had reached an impasse, and he was directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the immediate resumption of operations at the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Montreal. He also called for the labour dispute to be resolved through binding arbitration. The Port of Montreal’s workers were locked out on Sunday, and longshore workers at the Port of Vancouver have been locked out since November 4. MacKinnon emphasized the severe economic consequences, noting that $1.3 billion worth of goods are affected daily by the disruption. He said the situation was harming supply chains, damaging Canada’s economy, and threatening its standing as a dependable trading partner. “Canadians will not tolerate economic self-destruction,” MacKinnon stated. “When that happens, it is my responsibility as Labour Minister to intervene.” Business groups have been pushing for government action to restore the flow of goods through Canada’s ports. MacKinnon expressed hope that port operations could resume within days. The labour disputes began when the Maritime Employers Association locked out 1,200 longshore workers at the Port of Montreal on Sunday after a contract proposal was rejected. The workers had been seeking a 20% wage increase over four years. Meanwhile, in Vancouver, more than 700 longshore supervisors have been locked out