Michael Angell

Maritime employers say they will commence a lockout of the longshore foremen after their union began a threatened strike Monday morning, a move that will force marine terminals in the province to close.

The work stoppage along Canada's West Coast has also shut down rail operations, with CN suspending westbound rail service to British Columbia ports and CPKC halting acceptance of export and empty containers for the province.

The bullish fundamentals are expected to keep US imports healthy as the year ends and put a floor under rates, according to participants at this year's CONECT conference.

Coast-to-coast work stoppages at Canadian ports have ground container operations to a halt, with port employers saying their best offers for new dockworker contracts are on the table.

Canada's Labor Minister requires management and unions to submit to binding arbitration and orders that ports reopen after a series of strikes and lockouts effectively halted container operations across the country.

The Democrat, appointed under the previous Trump administration, had taken a particular interest in port and terminal operations while at the US maritime regulator.

The union representing about 45,000 dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports says employers want to eliminate jobs by implementing semi-automated technology at marine terminals.

Sean Duffy is the incoming administration's pick for transportation secretary, with much of his prior legislative focus on issues related to trucking.

The move effectively allows both sides to avoid having to agree to a deal brokered by Ottawa, as had been ordered by the country's labor minister.

The selection of Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer is seen as favorable to unions, with the new administration potentially facing the need to intervene if ILA contract talks aren't settled before Trump takes office.