B.C. facing port shutdown as employers issue lockout notice in dispute with foremen [Video]

Ports in British Columbia are waking up to the possibility of another provincewide labour disruption as employers say they will lock out members of the union representing more than 700 foremen after it served a strike notice.

The BC Maritime Employers Association says in a statement that it has issued a formal notice that it will “defensively” lock out members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 starting Monday at 8 a.m.

It says the lockout, which would shut down all cargo operations among association members across B.C., is meant to “facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations” in light of “escalating and unpredictable strike action.”

The employers say the union issued a 72-hour strike notice for job action starting Monday at 8 a.m., after three days of mediated talks this week yielded no agreement in the dispute that has been ongoing since the last contract expired …