Opening of Bargaining at Lower Mainland Ports in B.C. with CAW-Container
Truckers

VANCOUVER, July 19 /CNW/ - The Vancouver Container Truckers Association-CAW Local 2006 will officially open bargaining July 22 with a group of separate companies engaged in moving containers to and from the various lower mainland ports.

VCTA-CAW Local 2006 represents the largest group of container truck drivers at lower mainland ports in British Columbia. The membership is seeking a benchmark agreement for container truck drivers which will promote port stability and put an end to constant under-cutting of owner-operator rates.

"We can't have stability at the ports with an increasing number of unscrupulous container truck companies competing in a race to the bottom," said VCTA-CAW Local 2006 President Paul Johal.

Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) terminals saw a massive withdrawal of service by 1200 owner operators in 2005 to protest working conditions and a race to the bottom on rates. The dispute disrupted port operations and cost the provincial and national economies hundreds of millions of dollars.

As a result, the federal government amended the Port Authorities Operations Regulations to set up a licensing system with benchmark and minimum rates for applicable owner operators. The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure also set up a program to investigate and make recommendations to PMV to enforce the correct rates. PMV can sanction, suspend, or cancel the licenses of offenders.

"It seems the Ports aren't that interested in rate enforcement as they won't name companies with suspended or cancelled licenses," said CAW National Representative Gavin McGarrigle.

BC Labour Minister Murray Coell expressed concerns about the lack of timely action on the Ministry of Transportation recommendations in a letter sent to PMV June 3: "Since December 2007, approximately $645,765 has been collected on behalf of 351 owner-operators." Minister Coell added "If actions are not taken on offenders swiftly, I believe the effectiveness of the program will be seriously undermined."

"The Ports need to be ordered to do a better and more transparent job of rate enforcement. The Port regulations need to be changed to provide for true stability instead of the fake appearance of stability that we are left with today," said CAW National Representative Gavin McGarrigle.

Further bargaining is scheduled for August 4 and 5.

For further information: contact CAW National Representative Gavin McGarrigle at 778-668-6455 or Paul Johal, President, VCTA-CAW Local 2006 at 604-518-5008