Data through 2026-09-13 (13 September 2026)
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Longshore strike stops cargo at British Columbia ports

Longshore strike stops cargo at British Columbia ports. The disruption ran from 2023-07-01 (1 July 2023) to 2023-07-19 (19 July 2023), 19 days, affecting Vancouver (CA), Prince Rupert. Prince Rupert averaged 0.8 calls per day during the event window against an expected 1.1 (-0.3). Vancouver (CA) averaged 0.4 calls per day during the event window against an expected 0.8 (-0.4). Vancouver (CA) averaged 3.6 calls per day during the event window against an expected 5.1 (-29.9%).

Key facts

Started
2023-07-01 (1 July 2023)
Ended
2023-07-19 (19 July 2023)
Status
ended
Severity
3 Significant
Scope
regional
Chokepoints
None
Lanes
None
Countries
Canada
Confidence
high: The strike dates, the mediated settlement and the ratification are documented by the employers' association and the union, with the labour board ruling and the withdrawal of the second strike notice reported by CBC News.
First reported
2023-07-11 (11 July 2023)
  • Severity basis: Port closure of seven days or more; cargo work stopped across British Columbia terminals for 13 days from 2023-07-01 to 2023-07-13, with a further stoppage on 2023-07-18.

What happened

From 2023-07-01 (1 July 2023) longshore workers represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada struck terminals across British Columbia, including Vancouver and Prince Rupert, in a dispute with the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association over wages, contracting out and automation. More than 7,400 workers were reported to have left the job. The first stoppage ran to 2023-07-13, when both sides accepted settlement terms drawn up by a federal mediator. The union caucus then rejected the terms and members returned to picket lines at 16:30 on 2023-07-18. The Canada Industrial Relations Board ruled that action unlawful for want of 72 hours notice, and the union withdrew a fresh strike notice on 2023-07-19 (19 July 2023). A negotiated agreement followed on 2023-07-30 and was ratified in early August.

Measured effect

Port calls, Vancouver (CA)

Baseline (expected)
5.1 calls per day
Observed
3.6 calls per day
Change
-1.5 (-29.9%)
Standardised score
-0.7
Event window
2023-07-01 to 2023-07-19 (19 days)
Baseline window
2023-04-29 to 2023-06-23 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-16 (16 September 2026), data revision 1:b39af92be95c

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms.

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Container ship port calls, Vancouver (CA)

Baseline (expected)
0.8 calls per day
Observed
0.4 calls per day
Change
-0.4 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
-0.4
Event window
2023-07-01 to 2023-07-19 (19 days)
Baseline window
2023-04-29 to 2023-06-23 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-16 (16 September 2026), data revision 1:da17d0ad94c3

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms.

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Port calls, Prince Rupert

Baseline (expected)
1.1 calls per day
Observed
0.8 calls per day
Change
-0.3 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
-0.3
Event window
2023-07-01 to 2023-07-19 (19 days)
Baseline window
2023-04-29 to 2023-06-23 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-16 (16 September 2026), data revision 1:4dc738bcfd97

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms.

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Timeline

  1. Longshore workers walk out at British Columbia terminals after the collective agreement with the employers' association expires and bargaining fails. [s5] [s7]
  2. The federal labour minister gives a senior mediator one day to recommend terms of settlement, saying the gap between the parties no longer justifies a continued work stoppage. [s7]
  3. Both sides accept the mediator's terms and the stoppage ends after 13 days. The employers' association ratifies the four year agreement the same day. [s1] [s5]
  4. The union's caucus rejects the mediated agreement without a membership vote and workers return to the picket lines at 16:30, stopping cargo work again. [s1] [s5]
  5. The Canada Industrial Relations Board orders the union to cease strike action because 72 hours notice was not given. The union serves a new notice, then withdraws it that afternoon. [s4] [s6]
  6. The union and the employers' association announce a negotiated collective agreement reached with the assistance of the labour board, and recommend ratification. [s2]
  7. The employers' association confirms that union members have ratified the four year agreement, which it ratified on 2023-07-31. [s3]

Cause

The union struck over wages, the cost of living, contracting out of maintenance work and automation at the terminals, after bargaining with the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association failed when the previous agreement expired. The employers' association said its proposals on maintenance jurisdiction were rejected by the union. Attributed by: International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and British Columbia Maritime Employers Association. [s1] [s5] [s7]

Resolution

2023-07-19 (19 July 2023): Cargo work resumed on 2023-07-19 after the Canada Industrial Relations Board found the renewed strike unlawful and the union withdrew its fresh strike notice. A negotiated agreement followed on 2023-07-30 and was ratified in early August. [s2] [s3] [s4] [s6]

Corrections

No corrections to this record as of 2026-09-16 (16 September 2026).

Sources

  1. [s1] British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, ILWU leadership rejects mediator's fair and balanced tentative deal without a member vote, once again putting livelihoods and the Canadian economy at risk, published 2023-07-18 (18 July 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  2. [s2] British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, Joint ILWU Canada and BCMEA News Release, published 2023-07-30 (30 July 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  3. [s3] British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, ILWU Canada members ratify negotiated tentative agreement; the BCMEA is ready to work to restore stability to Canada's supply chain, published 2023-08-04 (4 August 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  4. [s4] International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, Strike Notice Removed - July 19, 2023, published 2023-07-19 (19 July 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  5. [s5] CBC News, B.C. port workers resume strike after union rejects tentative deal, published 2023-07-18 (18 July 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)
  6. [s6] CBC News, B.C. port workers union calls off strike notice hours after issuing it, published 2023-07-19 (19 July 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)
  7. [s7] CBC News, Labour minister gives mediator 24 hours to draft settlement to end B.C. port strike, published 2023-07-11 (11 July 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)