Vancouver Truckers Strike Grinds On

VANCOUVER - Jul 6/05 - SNS -- Efforts to mediate an end to the container truckers strike in Vancouver failed because the groups involved are too far apart in their ideas to allow meaningful negotiations to begin.

About 1,000 container truckers have been off the job since June 27. They handle about 40% of the containerized cargo that moves through the port of Vancouver.

The strike prevents specialty crops and other grains from being loaded into containers at off-dock facilities and trucked back. It does not affect grains moving through bulk terminals in the port and should have no impact on containers which are loaded in western Canada and moved by rail to the port.

However, the proportion of specialty crops moving in source-loaded containers is not as great as in the past because of limited availability of equipment in Saskatoon, Regina and Edmonton.

Francois Catellier, executive director of the Canadian Special Crops Association (CSCA), remarked, "We're of limited patience." He said the association has suggested to Canada's federal labor minister that federal intervention may be needed to bring the strike to an end, claiming that for every week the strike is in effect, it will take shippers three weeks to catch up.

The strike is also affecting the Canadian Wheat Board, which mostly moves grain in bulk. "We do have container shipments that are waiting," Louise Waldman told reporters with CBC. "It certainly is not positive for our reputation as a reliable supplier."

Also speaking to the CBC, Catellier claimed 40% of Canada's specialty crop exports move in containers. As a consequence, the strike is materially affecting Canada's reputation as a reliable supplier.

"When you are trying to compete against pulse exporters like Australia and other regions, it's really something that we cannot afford anymore," he said. "I guess we are a little bit disappointed that the mediator . . . has been unable to have the truckers go back to work while they try to work out the details of this new deal."

Commenting on the collapse in talks, the Vancouver Container Truck Association (VCTA) said, "The brokers failed to step up to the plate. About 20 brokers failed to show up for the three days of intense talks. The 30 or so brokers who did show up were unable to agree on a meaningful rate offer. They refused to move beyond the existing inadequate rates.

"The reality is that the brokers are focused competing amongst themselves at our expense. The VCTA is prepared to resume talks at any time with anyone. In particular the VCTA strongly believes that Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) and the Fraser Port Authority (FPA) need to be part of the solution."