Important information to our CNTL Unifor Membership concerning demonstrations / strikes
at Metro Vancouver Ports
February 26, 2014
More than 1,000 non-unionized container truck drivers in the Greater Vancouver area are refusing to work at Port Metro Vancouver to protest long wait times and low rates. Demonstrations were held today (February 26) and threats of potential strikes have been made if Port Metro Vancouver does not address their concerns. Unionized truck drivers plan a strike vote in solidarity unless a mediator can be brought in to resolve the issues.
The withdrawal of services at Canada’s biggest port by members of the United Truckers Association will potentially affect operations at Vanterm in Burrard Inlet and Deltaport and Fraser Surrey Docks, south of Vancouver.
Unifor, which represents a majority of the unionized truckers at the Port Metro Vancouver, has called on the port and the provincial government to bring in top labour mediator Vince Ready to sit down with both parties to work out a resolution.
Port Metro Vancouver says the dispute is between the truckers and their employers and that it won’t get in the middle of the dispute. Peter Xotta, the port’s vice president of planning and operations, noted that truckers’ woes have been exacerbated by a particularly harsh winter. Xotta says that the extreme weather conditions over the past two months in eastern and central North America have forced the need to shorten and slow trains so they could operate safely, while storms in the Pacific Ocean delayed ships leading to delays for truckers.
Port Metro Vancouver is North America’s largest export port by tonnage and trades $172 billion in goods annually.
We will continue to keep our membership updated on this matter as the information becomes available.
Please click here to read the communique that was issued today to our CNTL Vancouver membership
The withdrawal of services at Canada’s biggest port by members of the United Truckers Association will potentially affect operations at Vanterm in Burrard Inlet and Deltaport and Fraser Surrey Docks, south of Vancouver.
Unifor, which represents a majority of the unionized truckers at the Port Metro Vancouver, has called on the port and the provincial government to bring in top labour mediator Vince Ready to sit down with both parties to work out a resolution.
Port Metro Vancouver says the dispute is between the truckers and their employers and that it won’t get in the middle of the dispute. Peter Xotta, the port’s vice president of planning and operations, noted that truckers’ woes have been exacerbated by a particularly harsh winter. Xotta says that the extreme weather conditions over the past two months in eastern and central North America have forced the need to shorten and slow trains so they could operate safely, while storms in the Pacific Ocean delayed ships leading to delays for truckers.
Port Metro Vancouver is North America’s largest export port by tonnage and trades $172 billion in goods annually.
We will continue to keep our membership updated on this matter as the information becomes available.
Please click here to read the communique that was issued today to our CNTL Vancouver membership
