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Vancouver port truckers vote overwhelmingly to strike over wait times
MEMBERS of newly formed Uniform-Vancouver Container Truckers' Association, a common front between unionized and non-union drivers, voted overwhelmingly to strike against long waits in the Port of Vancouver.
"Our members have sent a very clear message: enough is enough," said Paul Johan, president of Uniform-VCTA.
Unionized Uniform's collective agreement expired in June 2012. During that time, the union has been raising concerns that long queues and wait times at the port cost non-union drivers money.
Unifor-VCTA is demanding increased rates of pay at the bargaining table and wants the rates standardised and enforced across the sector to put an end to under-cutting.
"Container truckers, like workers across this country, make the economy work," said unionised Unifo president Jerry Dias. "They deserve to be compensated fairly for their role in generating wealth, but if workers can't share in that wealth, we'll help shut that port down until they get it."
Unifor is also calling on the federal and provincial governments and the Ports to appoint mediator Vince Ready to review the situation and make recommendations to solve the long-standing issues.
The local is now in a position to issue 72-hour strike notice to employers.
Unifor was founded last September when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged. With more than 300,000 members, Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector.
Non-union truckers are demanding from the port authority an end to long waits at terminals which cost then money because they are paid by the load.
They are demanding that the port streamline operations to improve wait times or pay drivers an hourly wage while waiting. They are also asking for a standardised pay rate for all container truck drivers working at the city's port.
A spokesman for Port Metro Vancouver confirmed that a 48-hour strike last week had an impact on business at the port, which handled a record 135 million tonnes of cargo in 2013.
"The port is still open for business, but we are seeing delays due to the protest," spokesman John Parker-Jervis said.
Port Metro Vancouver has said it is working on new infrastructure and practices to improve wait times at its facilities, and blamed some of the backlog on extreme weather.
"Our members have sent a very clear message: enough is enough," said Paul Johan, president of Uniform-VCTA.
Unionized Uniform's collective agreement expired in June 2012. During that time, the union has been raising concerns that long queues and wait times at the port cost non-union drivers money.
Unifor-VCTA is demanding increased rates of pay at the bargaining table and wants the rates standardised and enforced across the sector to put an end to under-cutting.
"Container truckers, like workers across this country, make the economy work," said unionised Unifo president Jerry Dias. "They deserve to be compensated fairly for their role in generating wealth, but if workers can't share in that wealth, we'll help shut that port down until they get it."
Unifor is also calling on the federal and provincial governments and the Ports to appoint mediator Vince Ready to review the situation and make recommendations to solve the long-standing issues.
The local is now in a position to issue 72-hour strike notice to employers.
Unifor was founded last September when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged. With more than 300,000 members, Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector.
Non-union truckers are demanding from the port authority an end to long waits at terminals which cost then money because they are paid by the load.
They are demanding that the port streamline operations to improve wait times or pay drivers an hourly wage while waiting. They are also asking for a standardised pay rate for all container truck drivers working at the city's port.
A spokesman for Port Metro Vancouver confirmed that a 48-hour strike last week had an impact on business at the port, which handled a record 135 million tonnes of cargo in 2013.
"The port is still open for business, but we are seeing delays due to the protest," spokesman John Parker-Jervis said.
Port Metro Vancouver has said it is working on new infrastructure and practices to improve wait times at its facilities, and blamed some of the backlog on extreme weather.
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