The president of the union representing striking British Columbia port workers said employers are waiting for the federal government to do their 鈥渄irty work鈥� instead of negotiating an end to the workers鈥� six-day strike.

Officials with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada also said the association representing port employers is more interested in a 鈥渄irty tricks campaign,鈥� than resuming talks that stalled on Monday.

Hundreds of port workers and supporters attended a solidarity rally in Vancouver Thursday morning, chanting in unison and waving placards and union flags.

Rob Ashton, president of the union, told the rally that 鈥渢he employer walked away from the table three times.鈥�

鈥淭hey don鈥檛 want to negotiate with us. They don鈥檛 want to do the right thing for the workers of the longshore division that put their lives on the line during the COVID pandemic,鈥� he said.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e trying to wait for the government to do their dirty work because they don鈥檛 want to treat us with respect.鈥�

Following his speech, the workers marched to the busy intersection of Clark Drive and East Hastings Street to picket.

The BC Maritime Employers Association has been calling for binding arbitration to end the strike involving about 7,400 workers at more than 30 ports.

The union workers have been off the job since Canada Day to back demands for improved wages and provisions against contracting out and automation.

Ashton said in a statement earlier Thursday that the employers association had released misinformation and details exaggerating the incomes of dock workers.

The association said Wednesday that binding arbitration could quickly resolve the job action.

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O鈥橰egan is instead urging the two sides to make use of available mediators and resume negotiations.

O鈥橰egan met with his B.C. counterpart, Labour Minister Harry Bains, on Wednesday to discuss the strike, which has idled Canada鈥檚 busiest port, in Vancouver, as well as the third busiest port, in Prince Rupert.

CP Rail, now known as CPKC Ltd., issued temporary embargoes on rail traffic to the Port of Vancouver this week, while officials in Alberta and Saskatchewan have joined with business organizations in B.C. and across Canada calling for federal legislation to end the job action.

鈥淣egotiations are still paused, however, the BCMEA remains ready to re-engage at a moment鈥檚 notice, assuming ILWU Canada is prepared to present a reasonable proposal,鈥� the association said in an email Wednesday.

The strike has potentially disrupted $3.7 billion of cargo, it said.

鈥淎utomotive parts, refrigerated food, fertilizer, critical minerals and goods 鈥� are not reaching Canadians or our trading partners abroad,鈥� said the association.

Data show the Port of Vancouver handles approximately 142 million tonnes of cargo annually while nearly 25 million tonnes of goods moved through Prince Rupert in 2022.

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