MEMBERS of RMT and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) staged an action today in support of Canadian dockworkers who have been locked out of their workplace.

Trade unionists belonging to the International Longshore Workers Union were locked out of Vancouver Port by their employer British Columbia Maritime Employers’ Association (BCMEA) after they issued a strike notice.

IFM Investors, an asset management company, has a 37.5 per cent stake in the BCMEA group. 

ILWU Canada president Rob Ashton has called on the firm to intervene and get the Port reopened and dialogue re-established.

Members of ITF dockers’ section and RMT handed in a letter to IFM’s London office in the morning.

RMT national secretary Darren Procter said it will “hopefully encourage them to see sense” and get around the negotiating table rather than locking out workers, and treat them with the dignity and respect they are entitled to.