Vancouver trucker troubles continue

Recent talks between the parties have failed to reach a resolution over trucker pay – in particular unpaid time spent waiting at container terminals, which is exacerbated by congestion issues.

Earlier this month, the situation escalated when unionised truck drivers went on strike joining non-union drivers who walked off the job in February.

The port estimates the impact of the strikes to be around CAD$885m to the Canadian economy each week.

But the impacts to Port Metro Vancouver’s private terminal operators are a little more hard to quantify, but are serious nonetheless.

There are four container terminals at the port – Vanterm, Deltaport, Centerm, and Fraser Surrey Docks. Global Container Terminals operates two of them, Vanterm and Deltaport.

Louanne Wong, spokesperson at Global Container Terminals (GCT), told Port Strategy: “Only import discharged local import cargo is impacted. All import cargo to rail and all export cargo are unaffected, and continue to move smoothly.”

But due to the backlog of import cargo in containers caused by the trucking dispute, the operator has had to issue force majeure to its shipping line customers.

The impact to local cargo is profound. Transportation minister, Todd Stone has appealed to all parties to come to a resolution to safeguard jobs in the province because companies are not receiving their goods to allow them to do business.

Port Strategy asked DP World, which operates the Centerm terminal, to comment on the issue, but it has not replied so far.

Port Metro Vancouver had previously tried to block further strike action by taking out an injunction after some trucks were vandalised at the port.

But truckers are calling for the suit to be dropped because no charges have been made.

The port meanwhile has nailed its colours to the mast over the issue and has said it will push ahead with revoking some trucking licenses if the strikes continue.

A statement on the port’s website from Robin Silvester, president and chief executive officer warned: “A continued refusal by some truckers to provide a service is likely to result in suspension or termination of their permits by Port Metro Vancouver.”

Meanwhile, the B.C. government has said it is prepared to introduce back-to-work legislation as early as Monday to put an end to the issue.