VANCOUVER, March 13, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, the Honourable Todd Stone British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Robin Silvester, President & Chief Executive Officer, Port Metro Vancouver, today announced concrete action to end the trucking dispute in Port Metro Vancouver. A 14-point action plan has been collectively agreed upon to return the port to normal operations. This plan will help ensure truck drivers are paid fair compensation. It also includes rapid implementation of pilot measures to help reduce wait times at container terminals and the creation of an industry oversight committee.
The measures were developed after taking into account the concerns voiced by container truck owner/operators and unionized drivers and inputs received from all stakeholders, including recommendations made by Federally appointed advisor Vince Ready. The efficient movement of marine containers through Port Metro Vancouver is critical to Canada's Asia Pacific Gateway and the national economy. The work stoppage of the last two weeks has resulted in severe impacts on the national economy, and with the immediate implementation of the 14-point action plan we expect an immediate and full return to work by truck drivers.
As part of the plan, and to address industry instability and concerns about undercutting agreed rates, Port Metro Vancouver will restructure its Truck Licensing System. This comes after months of consultation with industry, trucking companies and federal and provincial governments, and has benefited from the work of Vince Ready and his discussions with truck operators. Port Metro Vancouver will consult with trucking industry stakeholders, with the intent to implement reforms by June 15, 2014.
To read the 14-point action plan go to: http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/docs/default-source/ABOUT-Media/2014-03-13-action-plan-march-final2.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Quick Facts
Port Metro Vancouver is Canada's largest port. In 2013, the port handled a record 135 million tonnes of cargo, an overall increase of 9 percent over 2012.
Approximately 2,000 Port Metro Vancouver licensed trucks service the port moving containers throughout the Lower Mainland.
The local trucking industry moves approximately 1.3 million TEUs* per year in Port Metro Vancouver. Based on 2011 economic impact study figures, the value of those goods would be worth approximately $46 billion or roughly $885 million per week.
Quotes
"I have asked Port Metro Vancouver to implement the agreed upon action plan. It is time to get the port working once again and we expect the trucking industry to do their part and immediately return to work."
The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport
"The Port of Metro Vancouver - the largest in Canada - is critical to the economy of B.C. and Canada providing good paying jobs. I am confident that the joint action plan that has been put in place today will allow the truckers to return to work and the port to return to normal operations immediately."
British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone
"We are fully behind these changes and intend to put them in place quickly, in consultation with stakeholders in the trucking community," said Robin Silvester, President and CEO, Port Metro Vancouver. "Our goal is to rapidly improve the truck licensing system to more effectively manage the trucking services marketplace, improve efficiencies and ensure there is effective compliance monitoring in place with respect to rates."
Robin Silvester, President & Chief Executive Officer, Port Metro Vancouver
*The twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) is a standard unit for describing a ship's cargo carrying capacity, or a shipping terminal's cargo handling capacity.
SOURCE: Transport Canada
Ashley Kelahear
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Transport
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Robert Adam
250 356-8241
Media Relations
B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
John Parker-Jervis
Port Metro Vancouver Media relations
604-665-9267
[email protected]
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