Americas News
Truckers' Strike Could Widen at Vancouver Port
About 400 truck drivers at Port Metro Vancouver could strike as early as Thursday at noon if their union does not reach an agreement with mangement, Canadian business paper the Financial Post reports.
Already, about 1,400 independent truckers walked off the job last Wednesday.
"We've attempted to settle this disagreement at the bargaining table and in discussions with government," said Paul Johal, president of Unifor-Vancouver Container Truckers' Association (Unifor-VCTA), which represents the 400 drivers who work for trucking companies at the port.
"But without any progress on improving rates, dealing with under-cutting, and fixing growing line-ups at the ports, we have no choice but to take job action."
Both groups of truckers say they now face long line-ups and wait times, costing them money.
Unifor-VCTA is seeking higher pay rates with greater standardization and enforcement.
The port says its operations have slowed since the strike by independent truckers, and it accused their union, the United Truckers Association (UTA), of vandalising a truck last week.
Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor area director for British Columbia, said last week that if the Unifor drivers join the strike other unions such as the International Longshore & Warehouse Union may refuse to cross the picket lines, the Financial Post reported.
"We think it will mean a complete shutdown of the ports in Vancouver," he said.
