Longshore and Warehousing Associations on Strike Halt Operations at Delta Coal Terminal

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The port and warehouse association at Westshore Terminal is on strike, halting operations at one of Canada’s largest and busiest ports for moving coal.

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Westshore Terminals handles more than 33 million tonnes of coal from its docks at Roberts Banks in the Delta, but is shifting to other commodities such as potash.

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West Shore is the largest coal export terminal on the west coast of North America, carrying coal from British Columbia, Alberta, the Powder River Basin and Montana in Canada.

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Two western provinces account for 90% of Canada’s coal production. Coal accounts for 45% of her BC’s total mining income.

Westshore continues negotiations with International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 502 for a new collective agreement from October 2021.

The last one and two other ILWU locals who were in the terminal expired in January 2022.

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After negotiations broke down on Friday afternoon, the union’s website called on members, their friends and family to join the picket line early Saturday morning.

An estimated 100 to 200 workers are on strike.

The picket line crosses the security access area of ​​GCT Deltaport, also in Roberts Banks.

Visitors without a port pass must scan their driver’s license or other identification to obtain clearance before reaching a picket line located outside the Westshore Terminal worksite .

On Sunday, the union was handing out information pamphlets to workers arriving to join the picket line.

According to the brochure, ILWU Local 502 has worked at the Westshore Terminal since the terminal opened in 1970 and in 52 years the union has never gone on strike at the Westshore.

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“Westshore Terminals has changed its management style over the last few years, which has directly impacted the quality of life of its members,” he said.

While Westshore Terminal is not suffering and continues to thrive, union members have “faced many challenges in their personal and professional lives over the past few years, including an unprecedented pandemic, rising costs of living and skyrocketing inflation. there is,” he pointed out. Pamphlet.

Since the beginning of 2021, Westshore Terminals has increased its dividend three times and issued two special dividends totaling more than $220.5 million, he added.

Westshore Terminals Investment Corp. is based in Vancouver and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Wholly owns his Westshore Terminals Limited Partnership, a subsidiary that operates terminals. Westshore Terminals Investment Corp has a market cap of $1.86 billion.

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Jim Pattison Group owns over 40% of WTIC shares.

The company on Friday issued a statement that “the work stoppage will result in a complete suspension of operations at the terminal.”

In a statement last week, it said the parties remained in contact and had the assistance of mediators under the Canadian Labor Code while the strike notice was being served. said no further negotiations were planned.

“At this time, our only comment is that we have no comment,” said Hermen Kailley, ILWU Local 502 secretary and treasurer.

Westshore vice president and general manager Glenn Dudar did not respond to Postmedia.

jlee-young@postmedia.com