Vancouver Strike Talks Collapse
(The Journal of Commerce)
Negotiations to end a strike by 1,200 independent container truckers at two Vancouver area ports collapsed today as
motor carriers refused to raise pay rates, drivers said in a statement.
Attempts were being made to re-start the talks, which began over the weekend. The Vancouver Container Truck Association, saying
it was "prepared to resume talks at any time with anyone," asked the Vancouver Port Authority to join the negotiations, as well as the nearby Fraser River Port Authority. The strike has affected
shipments at the agencies' four container terminals.
VPA spokesman Duncan Wilson said in an interview that the agency had told mediator Vince Ready it would join the discussions, but that Ready had
said such involvement "was not yet appropriate."
"This is a significant blow to the provincial economy and the parties on both sides should make every effort to stay at the
table," Wilson said. "This strike is really hurting the local economy."
In a statement released this afternoon, the truckers said the discussions collapsed because about 20 of the
motor carriers who employ the mostly independent drivers did not attend the talks and the 30 who did attend "were unable to agree on a meaningful rate offer." The drivers said the carriers
"refused to move beyond the existing inadequate rates."
The drivers, who handle regional and local deliveries, mostly to retailers, parked their rigs July 1, demanding pay increases and
improvements in working conditions at marine terminals. About 40 percent of all container traffic in Vancouver has been affected by the strike. Long-distance truck movements, and rail shipments to central
Canada and the U.S. Midwest have not been affected.
The breakdown of talks came after Craig Paterson, an attorney for the truckers, earlier said carriers involved in the talks had accepted the
concept of a standard rate paid for local container truckers.
The motor carriers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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