By Alice McFarlane

Vancouver grain terminal workers serve strike notice

Sep 23, 2024 | 1:57 PM

Another major labour disruption could affect the Port of Vancouver starting tomorrow.

Grain Workers Union (GWU) Local 333 served 72-hour strike notice on Sept. 21. Workers at the six main bulk grain terminals could legally walk off the job as soon as 7 a.m. tomorrow.

The union represents 650 operations staff at the Alliance Grain, Cargill, Cascadia, G3, Pacific and Richardson International grain export terminals in Vancouver.

This has farm groups concerned. Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) said in a news release the strike would stop all shipments of bulk grain and risk the livelihoods of Prairie farmers.

Grain farmers rely heavily on the Port of Vancouver to handle and export most of the grain they grow. Last year, terminal elevators at the Port of Vancouver received roughly 52 per cent of all grain produced from across Canada, underscoring the role the terminals play in the agricultural supply chain.

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Data from the Canadian Grain Commission indicated the work stoppage will halt roughly 100,000 metric tonnes of grain arriving at the terminals per day, resulting in a loss of $35 million in potential exports daily.

GGC is calling on the federal government and Minister of Labour to use all tools available to them to ensure parties reach an agreement before a work stoppage occurs.

A five-year collective bargaining agreement between the union and the Vancouver Terminal Elevators’ Association expired on Dec. 31.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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