Striking container truck drivers at Port Metro Vancouver are vowing not to return to work, after the port and B.C. government issued new ultimatums on Wednesday in an attempt to end the ongoing labour dispute.
The truckers say the "bully tactics" aren't the answer and will make a bad situation worse.
Many joined a rally at the Vancouver container terminal early Thursday morning.
Containers lie idle at Port Metro Vancouver after containerized truck drivers voted to withdraw services to press demands for shorter wait times and standardized trucking rates. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)
Manny Dosanjh, of the United Trucker's Association, which represents about 1,200 non-union drivers involved in the dispute, says he does not expect drivers will return to work any time soon.
"It's wishful thinking on their part," he said Wednesday. "Nothing is happening Thursday. I don't think anything is happening on the union side either."
Dosanjh says truckers are leaving the industry because they can't make money. Even on a good working day, he says, the port is still short drivers.
Licences at risk
Nevertheless Port Metro Vancouver president Robin Silvester says he expects everyone with a current licence or permit to report to work on Thursday or risk losing their licence.
Silvester said the port is pushing ahead with licence reform and won't be renewing old licences as they expire. The port has also issued notices to terminate the licences and permits of up to 150 truckers which are due to expire soon.
"I cannot imagine why we would issue future licences or permits under the new licensing system to truck drivers who are not at work tomorrow," he said Wednesday.
Silvester says the port plans to begin implementing the 14-point action plan for reform presented seven days ago to the truckers by both the federal and provincial governments.
Operations at Port Metro Vancouver have been disrupted for two weeks, after non-unionized container truck drivers first withdrew their services and were then joined by unionized container truckers. (CBC)
The plan was based on recommendations from veteran mediator Vince Ready who was appointed by the federal government to look at the issues surrounding the strike.
But it was rejected earlier this week when the truckers demanded more negotiations first.
Back-to-work legislation coming
The B.C. government also announced Wednesday it is preparing back-to-work legislation that will apply to about 250 unionized drivers who went on strike on March 10.
The province says the legislation, which could be introduced as early as Monday, includes a 90-day cooling off period.
Only unions can be legislated back to work and Unifor-VCTAA, the union representing container truckers, is the target of the government legislation.
President Paul Johal also says trying to force his members to work will only make a bad situation worse.
"The minister can't expect to stick his head in the sand and make this go away," said Johal.
"A negotiated settlement is the only sustainable solution."
Port Metro Vancouver is the country's busiest port and the strike by truckers has been impacting $100 million worth of goods every day.
The strike started in February when non-union container truckers withdrew their services. It picked up steam in early March when unionized drivers also went on strike.
The truck drivers are demanding standardized rates of pay across the trucking sector to prevent undercutting and a reduction in wait times at the port.
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