Vancouver Port Workers Poised to Strike

Workers at the Port of Vancouver are poised to hit the bricks Tuesday morning. 

Around 650 workers represented by Grain Workers Union Local 333, a member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU), could be off the job as early as 7 am PST Sept. 24 after a 72-hour strike notice was served on the Vancouver Terminal Elevators’ Association (VTEA) Saturday morning. 

Grain is deemed essential for vessel loading under clause 87.7 of the Canada Labour Code, but according to the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), that provision does not cover terminal operations' grain workers. 

Meanwhile, the Grain Growers of Canada said the terminal elevators at the Port of Vancouver last year received slightly more than half of all grain produced from across Canada, “underscoring the critical role these terminals play in our agricultural supply chain.”  Further, the Grain Growers said data from the Canadian Grain Commission indicates the looming work stoppage will halt nearly 100,000 tonnes of grain arriving at the terminals per day, resulting in a loss of $35 million in potential exports daily. 

Cargill, Richardson International, Viterra, and G3 are among the members of VTEA that have grain operations at the Port of Vancouver. 

In a Facebook message to its members, the union said it decided to serve the strike notice after VTEA appeared to make little effort last week to work toward striking a deal. 

“This is another gut punch for farmers,” said APAS President Ian Boxall. “Our farmers are again caught in the crossfire of labour disputes far from their fields, facing the consequences of halted grain shipments.” 

APAS said it is urging federal labour minister Steve MacKinnon to consider the VTEA’s request for a government directed member vote on the current contract offer, as a step towards resolving the deadlock and “preventing further damage to Saskatchewan's agricultural sector and Canada’s reputation as a reliable grain supplier.” 

In late August, a labour disruption simultaneously briefly shut down both of Canada’s two major railways before the federal government ordered binding arbitration to settle the dispute. British Columbia port workers were also off the job for nearly two weeks last summer in another contract dispute. 

Located on the southwest coast of British Columbia, the Port of Vancouver extends from Roberts Bank and the Fraser River up to and including Burrard Inlet. The port connects Canada with approximately 140 to 170 countries annually and enables the trade of approximately $300 billion in goods annually. 

Still other potential labour disruptions remain on the horizon. The union representing foremen at British Columbia’s ports voted in favour of strike action earlier this month, although no 72-hour strike or lockout notice has yet been issued.  

And south of the border, around 25,000 workers at America’s east coast and Gulf ports are threatening to walk off the job Oct. 1 if a new contract agreement is not reached.