Union action threatens the Canadian economy

BY STEVEN KASZAB

The ILWU is looking for an agreement on protections against proposed port automation, high inflationary impacts upon their wages and job security as a result of positions taken by The Port Authority Vancouver. Along the entire British Columbian Coast, 35 Ports that receive and send massive amounts of product from world importers and exporters are at a stand still, closed by 7,400 workers seeking clarity and honest negotiations from the B.C. Government negotiators.

Imported Seafood waits to be unloaded, while potash intended for export sits at the docks. Members of The International Longshore and Warehouse Union have received proposals such as median annual wages of $136,000 plus benefits and pension from The B.C. Maritimes Employers Association, which represents 49 Private Sector Firms.

If the Union decides to reject further proposals, there will be a massive ripple effect that will flow across Canada. The automotive industry will suffer, as well as the manufacturing, retail and foodstuff sectors. The automotive sector orders parts and materials from afar; hoping to plug these into its “on time” scheduled manufacturing process. Retailers’ orders for seasonal and Christmas items will be delayed as well.

Scheduled processes within the on-time train and trucking systems are also delayed with uncertainty when these products can be available for transport. More ships will go to US Ports, taking business away from B.C. Ports.

Remember what happened when several Aboriginal activists camped on railway tracks in protest?

The Canadian economy lost billions, businesses suffered too, unable to process products for their clients. The weaknesses of rail transport were seen and appreciated by both victims, and future protesters. Union action is a form of protest after all.

What we have here is human protest against potential and proposed automation of present-day jobs, a real threat to workers everywhere. Even the feared application of artificial intelligence shows its threatening head. There are plans to fully automate ports across the USA, so of course Canadian Ports will be next. In the Middle East, automated systems built using oil money have eliminated thousands of middle-class jobs. To the World Economic Community, automation fuelled by massive investments is the hoped-for future. Manual labour and human labour are possible threatened species.

The ILWU demands transparent, controlled negotiations with no influence peddling from the Federal Government. Will the Fed’s allow this to happen while the strikes effects are felt in the public’s pocket books and the near election cycle?