Negotiations on a new contract for union longshore foremen at the Port of Vancouver "are substantially complete," employers said, avoiding a potentially devastating work stoppage at the Canadian port.

The Waterfront Foremen Employers Association (WFEA) on Wednesday sent an open letter to shippers stating that contract talks were almost finished and that "shippers can be optimistic about a settlement without work disruption."

The WFEA and the foremen's local of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, an independent associate of the U.S.-based ILWU, had failed to negotiate a contract but talks resumed under a federal mediator recently. Talks were adjourned this week at the union's request, partly in order to receive membership approval of a renewed commitment not to strike during mediation. The WFEA in turn pledged not to lock out labor.

The WFEA said while there had been "posturing" both by itself and by the union, "negotiations are substantially complete."

The WFEA said negotiations were expected to resume Sept. 15 and that core issues such as wages, benefits and retirement allowances "have already been agreed." The remaining issues to be negotiated should not be "the basis for threatened or actual work disruption." Significant progress had been made on these remaining issues in recent days, the WFEA said.

British Columbia port employers have completed a new collective agreement with the longshoremen whom the foremen direct.

By Courtney Tower