As unionized truckers issued a 72-hour strike notice, Port Metro Vancouver has agreed to a proposal to deal with concerns raised by drivers. Last Wednesday, more than 1,000 non-unionized container truck drivers parked their rigs to protest long wait times and low rates at Port Metro Vancouver ports, including Deltaport.
Protests began Wednesday morning at the gates of Vanterm facility near downtown Vancouver and at a truck pullout along Highway 91 just north of Highway 10.
The truckers insist their rigs won't budge until the port meets a series of demands, including resolution of the ongoing issues of rates and delays.
On Saturday, citing a lack of progress at the bargaining table, members of Unifor-Vancouver Container Truckers' Association (VCTA) voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action and on Monday the union issued its strike notice.
The strike will commence if an agreement cannot be reached by noon Thursday.
"We've attempted to settle this disagreement at the bargaining table and in discussions with government," said Paul Johal, president of Unifor-VCTA. "But without any progress on improving rates, dealing with undercutting, and fixing growing line-ups at the ports, we have no choice but to take job action."
On Monday, Port Metro Vancouver agreed in principle to a proposal provided by the B.C. Trucking Association and the shipping industry to deal with some of the issues. The proposal includes extending operating hours, changes to how fees are charged and conducting audits of trucking companies.
It is now being circulated by trucking company owners throughout the owner/operator trucking community.
The union's collective agreement expired in June 2012. Since that time, the union has raised concerns that long line-ups and wait times at ports are costing truck drivers. Unifor-VCTA is demanding increased rates of pay and wants the rates standardized and enforced across the sector to put an end to under-cutting.
The work stoppage has already had a significant impact on operations at the ports. Port Metro Vancouver spokesperson Caroline Price said the ports are seeing only about 15 per cent of their usual volume.
