The port strike on the West Coast of Canada has ended after thirteen days, following intervention from the Canadian government.
Both the ILWU and the employers association have now endorsed a compromise that was suggested by a federal mediator, and is likely to be approved by the unions members.
The Port of Vancouver have updated that some operations are now ready to resume, just hours after the parties confirmed their initial acceptance of a new four-year labour agreement.
The strike has been costing an estimated $379m per day, after port workers walked out on 1st July. With the Vancouver Board of Trade estimating 63’000 shipping containers waiting to be unloaded. This followed a prolonged dispute over pay, maintenance and automation, which had left the labour force out of contract since March this year.
The news that operations are expected to restart will provide great relief to importers and exporters who have been impacted by the strike. However, it is expected to take weeks – even months for supply chains and affected businesses to recover.
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