Vancouver Port, Union Remain at Odds in Labor Dispute

Port Metro Vancouver officials called on striking truckers at Canada’s largest port to return to work, while the national union representing several hundred truckers said talks to end the strike remained at an impasse.

PMV released a 14-point plan late last week to resolve the dispute, which is entering its third week. It said in a March 16 statement that the plan “addresses concerns raised by truckers in areas such as compensation and wait times, and is a means to get port operations back to normal.”

Unifor, Canada’s largest labor union which represents several hundred drayage truckers at the port under the Vancouver Container Truckers Association, said drivers “have been raising concerns that long lineups and wait times” at the port are costing them “money and that rates agreed to in previous contract negotiations were not being honored.”

“Truckers understand the impact of the work stoppage, and we’re eager to find a speedy resolution,” Paul Johal, President of Unifor-VCTA said in a March 16 statement. “Container truck drivers deserve more than minimum wage for waiting time.”

PMV’s cargo traffic is down about 75% since protests began by nonunion truckers Feb. 26. They were joined by striking members of Unifor on March 10.