One of Port Moody’s biggest employers is behind picket lines.
Pacific Coast Terminals (PCT), which loads raw products, such as sulphur and potash, onto ships from its 108-acre terminal, is shut down as part of the B.C. port strike affecting workers and businesses served by the port facility.
Dozens of workers carrying picket signs blocked the entrance to PCT on Friday (July 7) and told the Tri-City News that BC Marine Employers’ Association (BCMEA) is “not bargaining in good faith.”
The dock workers, members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada, have been on strike since Saturday, July 1.
Maintenance, jurisdiction and contracting out appear to be some of the sticking points in negotiations that have reached an impasse.
The workers’ contract expired March 31.
In a July 6 press release, the BCMEA called on the union to resolve issues through a mediation–arbitration process, noting that $4.6 billion worth of cargo has been disrupted so far.
The union says it’s prepared to go back to the negotiating table “at any hour of the day.”
However, it says the BCMEA has falsely stated the union is “aggressively” trying to expand jurisdiction over regular maintenance work while the “key issue” is contracting out of maintenance work that skilled employees could do.
Meanwhile, commentators are expressing concern about the strike as delaying shipments of goods to businesses across Canada.
While some have called for the federal government to intervene, Canada’s labour minister Seamus O’Regan stated in a Tweet that he hoped the two sides would work out a deal.
“Industry, labour and all levels of government want to see goods moving through our ports. The BCMEA and ILWU need to get a deal. Workers across North America are counting on them.,” he stated.
PCT loads up as many as 100 ships a year, according to its website, so missed shifts by dock workers could mean materials aren’t loaded to the tune of three ships per month.
As well, many PCT workers who live in the Tri-Cities will be relying on strike pay to support their families.
But on Friday morning, morale appeared to be good and several workers raised their fists during a photo taken outside the PCT terminal.
The Tri-City News has reached out to PCT about the impact of the strike on its operations, but hasn’t heard back.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
Spoke with Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su this afternoon.
— Seamus O'Regan Jr (@SeamusORegan) July 6, 2023
Industry, labour, and all levels of government want to see goods moving through our BC ports.
The BCMEA and ILWU need to get a deal. Workers across North America are counting on them.
