Container truckers at a carrier serving the Port of Vancouver avoided a strike on Thursday after their union and the firm negotiated a last-minute agreement.
According to Unifor, the truckers’ union, Prudential Transportation negotiated a tentative agreement less than a day before roughly 120 drivers were expected to go on strike. It came after another carrier serving the port, Aheer Transportation, reached a similar agreement on Tuesday.
The agreements averted a potentially disastrous blow to the British Columbia port, which is still dealing with the effects of flooding and landslides that have disrupted CN and the Canadian Pacific rail service. As of Thursday evening, more than 50 boats, including six container ships, were anchored.
Prudential and Aheer, according to Unifor, tentatively agreed to a pattern agreement similar to others the union has secured with port carriers. Increases in waiting time and daily minimum payments are included in the agreements, as well as health and dental insurance.
Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor’s western regional director, told American Shipper, “This is basic stuff and just basic respect.” “I’m happy of these drivers and proud of them for standing up, and I’m delighted we were able to reach an agreement that gives them and their families some security and protection in the future.”
About 200 of the 1,700 truckers who serve the port are employed by Prudential and Aheer. Unifor had issued a 72-hour strike notice on Monday, prompting the settlements.
Unifor’s efforts to organize non-unionized drivers at the port will continue, according to McGarrigle.
“These ongoing disagreements are not in anyone’s interest – not these drivers’, not the shippers’, not the owners’,” McGarrigle added. “Port drivers are reasonable, and if they’re treated fairly, they may provide a lot of productivity.”
Requests for comment were not returned by Prudential Transportation.
