Canadian Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon has invoked federal powers to end work stoppages at the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Montreal, ordering binding and final arbitration between labor unions and ports ownership. Strike actions by unions and ports ownership lockouts had hit both coasts of the key U.S. northern trade partner. "The lockouts of the Canadian ports were causing ships to divert and contributing to congestion and delays throughout North America. Under section 107 of the Canada Labor Code, the Labor Minister can order binding arbitration to end labor disputes. Existing collective agreements will remain in place pending a new deal being reached between dockworker unions and the ports.

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Persons: Steven MacKinnon, Vancouver , Prince Rupert, Prince Rupert, Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Stephen Lamar, Lamar, MacKinnon, Mackinnon Organizations: Canadian Labor, Canadian, Retail Council, Canada, CNBC, Local, U.S . Department of Transportation, American Apparel & Footwear Association, U.S . West Coast, Canada Labor, Labor, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian National Railway Co, Canada Industrial Relations Locations: Vancouver, Montreal, U.S, United States, Canada, North America