Update: Just after 10:30 a.m., the International Longshore and Workers Union Canada announced a tentative agreement with the B.C. Maritime Employers Association, which has lifted its lockout.

Companies have shut down B.C. ports after mediation failed to resolve their stalemate with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

The B.C. Martime Employers Association's lockout affects 6,500 workers at terminals overseen by the Port of Vancouver and the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

About $180 million worth of goods arrives in containers each day at the Port of Vancouver's 27 main marine cargo terminals.

Many in the labour movement believe that the lockout is designed to force the Liberal government to pass legislation to end the dispute, just as it did when postal workers were off the job.

The employers issued lockout notice after ILWU Canada revealed that it would take "limited job action", including an overtime ban, at Global Containers Terminal's Vanterm and Deltaport.

https://twitter.com/alex_mckeen/status/1134111960251785217

The union has said that automation is a key issue because it poses a threat to the livelihoods of 80 to 90 percent of its members.

It's driving the point home with the following graphic:

The BCMEA, on the other hand, has argued that automation will preserve B.C. jobs by making employers more competitive.