Seaspan Marine and one of the unions that represents its tugboat crews averted job action by agreeing to enter into binding arbitration, but the company could still face a strike as early as Sunday as talks between the company, the other union and federal Labour Minister Kellie Leitch continued late Tuesday.

Leitch came to Vancouver to intervene in the dispute, which has the potential to disrupt Port Metro Vancouver operations. Both unions had signalled their intention to strike rather than accept terms in a new collective agreement that Seaspan was going to implement unilaterally starting June 9.

As part of its agreement with the Canadian Merchant Service Guild, Seaspan has deferred imposing the new terms while arbitration is underway.

The guild, which represents some 200 captains, mates and engineers on Seaspan tugs, will still hold a strike vote scheduled for this afternoon, said Mike Armstrong, president of the CMSG’s western branch.

“We can’t stop that due to process reasons,” Armstrong said, “but regardless of what the outcome is, we are not going out on strike as long as this (memorandum of agreement) is in place.”

However, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 400, which represents deckhands and cooks on Seaspan tugboat crews, voted unanimously in favour of striking in a Tuesday vote, although local president Terry Engler was hopeful discussions with Leitch and the company would avert job action.

“We’re in a bit of a holding pattern at this point and guardedly optimistic,” Engler told The Sun during a break between the strike vote Tuesday and its next meeting with Leitch and the company.

However, Engler said that if bargaining hasn’t resumed, and Seaspan has not withdrawn the unilateral contract by noon Thursday, Local 400 will serve strike notice to time a walkout for noon Sunday ahead of the company’s deadline to implement the new deal.

Port Metro Vancouver CEO Robin Silvester said Seaspan provides 60 per cent of the tugboats serving its facilities, and some parts of the port would be unable to operate if the company were to suffer a labour disruption.

“It would be negative for the port’s reputation,” Silvester said.

Tugboats help cargo vessels safely dock, including container ships, bulk carriers and oil tankers, and escort tankers as they come in and out of harbour.

With a file from Brian Morton

depenner@vancouversun.com

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