British Columbia ports stevedores rejected the proposal that emerged from the mediation process, prolonging the strike action that halted cargo shipments for nearly two weeks earlier this month.

In a letter posted on the union’s website, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada President Rob Ashton says workers are now asking their employers to “sit down to the table.” They invite them to negotiate directly with them, instead of doing it through the BC Maritime Employers Association.

The rejection of the offer raises the prospect of back-to-work legislation to end uncertainty at more than 30 port terminals and other sites, including Canada’s largest port, Vancouver.

The four-year agreement between the union and maritime employers was put to a vote by some 7,400 workers on Thursday and Friday, after union leaders presented it to locals on Tuesday.

The agreement reached with federal mediators had temporarily ended a 13-day strike that began on July 1, but its fate took a twist as the union leadership rejected it and tried to restart the pickets. of strike.

This attempt having been deemed illegal by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the union filed a new 72-hour strike notice, before withdrawing it a few hours later.

On July 20, the union announced that it was recommending the deal and would put it to a vote of the full membership.

The strike action was serious enough that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened the Incident Response Group, a decision generally reserved for situations of national crisis.