News Content
Vancouver back-to-work law developing, striking truckers still defiant
THE provincial government of British Colombia has introduced back-to-work legislation to end a three-week container truck drivers' strike against long waiting times at terminals in the Port of Vancouver.
Bill 25 will affect about 250 unionised truckers who are members of Unifor, and includes a 90-day cooling off period, but more than 1,000 non-union truckers are also on strike.
The legislation provides fines of C$10,000 (US$8,900) a day for the union and C$400 a day for union drivers who defy the back-to-work order. Port Metro Vancouver has threatened independent drivers with removal their permits to access the piers.
Drivers have pledged to defy the legislation, arguing word of the forced end to the dispute has encouraged employers to quit seeking a negotiated solution.
Gavin McGarrigle with Unifor, the union representing the container truck drivers, says the legislation won't work because government has no control over independent truckers, who make up the bulk of the strikers.
BC Liberal Transport Minister Todd Stone said the bill could pass within a day, but it might not pass until later in the week because the socialist NDP (New Democratic Party) opposition has said it will oppose the bill.
Said provincial Labour Minister Shirley Bond: "We need to see some movement here. Today is about the economy - not just in BC, but about Canada. I'm starting to receive letters from producers, shippers, importers, exporters. They want their goods moving and so do we."
The strike has affected the port's four container terminals. At its peak, the port said the strike was affecting C$885 million worth of goods per week, though the situation has improved in the past week as truck traffic increased.
Bill 25 will affect about 250 unionised truckers who are members of Unifor, and includes a 90-day cooling off period, but more than 1,000 non-union truckers are also on strike.
The legislation provides fines of C$10,000 (US$8,900) a day for the union and C$400 a day for union drivers who defy the back-to-work order. Port Metro Vancouver has threatened independent drivers with removal their permits to access the piers.
Drivers have pledged to defy the legislation, arguing word of the forced end to the dispute has encouraged employers to quit seeking a negotiated solution.
Gavin McGarrigle with Unifor, the union representing the container truck drivers, says the legislation won't work because government has no control over independent truckers, who make up the bulk of the strikers.
BC Liberal Transport Minister Todd Stone said the bill could pass within a day, but it might not pass until later in the week because the socialist NDP (New Democratic Party) opposition has said it will oppose the bill.
Said provincial Labour Minister Shirley Bond: "We need to see some movement here. Today is about the economy - not just in BC, but about Canada. I'm starting to receive letters from producers, shippers, importers, exporters. They want their goods moving and so do we."
The strike has affected the port's four container terminals. At its peak, the port said the strike was affecting C$885 million worth of goods per week, though the situation has improved in the past week as truck traffic increased.
Latest News
- For the first time, tianjin Port realized the whole process of dock operati...
- From January to August, piracy incidents in Asia increased by 38%!The situa...
- Quasi-conference TSA closes as role redundant in mega merger world
- Singapore says TPP, born again as CPTPP, is now headed for adoption
- Antwerp posts 5th record year with boxes up 4.3pc to 10 million TEU
- Savannah lifts record 4 million TEU in '17 as it deepens port
