The truck strike at the Port of Vancouver, Canada, is continuing, despite a dialogue between drayage haulers represented by the Vancouver Container Truck Association (VCTA), port officials and shipping companies. The strike involves about 1,000 truckers on wage issues, according to a Reuters report.
A Vancouver Port Authority news release stated that VCTA has demanded that the port assume responsibility for paying compensation directly to drivers, restrict access to VCTA members only, and enforce agreements between employers and truckers.
In response, the port said it does not establish tariffs or pay for the movement of containers by truck in or out of the port. The port also said it cannot restrict access to a particular group of truckers for discrimination reasons, and that it has no legal authority to establish tariffs or rates for the movement of containers or to enforce any such arrangement.
"The port has a strong interest in seeing this dispute resolved, but it is not a party to this dispute. The present dispute is between the VCTA and a group of approximately 60 companies in the shipping business. The port is not involved in any negotiations or agreements between the VCTA and those companies," said Chris Badger, the port’s vp of customer development and operations.
"The Port of Vancouver is very concerned about the impact of this dispute,” added Badger. “We are encouraged by the involvement of [mediator] Vince Ready, as well as by the plans of the federal government to establish an inquiry into the dispute. The port is ready and willing to cooperate with those initiatives, but it must be recognized that the port is not a party to the dispute."
