For the second time in three months, the federal labor minister is intervening to end strikes in the transportation sector.

In August, it was railway workers with CN Rail and CPKC Rail. On Tuesday morning, Steven MacKinnon instructed the Canada Industrial Relation Board to order binding arbitration in labour disputes at West Coast ports and the Port of Vancouver.

MacKinnon says management and the unions both had an “alarming lack of urgency” in reaching a negotiated settlement.

MacKinnon says the port strikes are hurting the national economy by significantly impacting supply chains, thousands of jobs, and Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner

The labor disruptions at West Coast ports started last week while management locked out the Port of Montreal longshoremen on Sunday, after the union set up picket lines at two of six terminals last week.

MacKinnon hopes operations can be restored within a matter of days.

Business groups support the decision and are calling on port workers to be declared essential to prevent future labour disruptions. However, labour groups say it represents a dangerous precedent that undermines workers’ rights.