Workers at Canada’s largest ports have resumed operations following government intervention, focusing on clearing significant backlogs caused by recent labour disputes.
Workers at Canada’s largest ports, Vancouver and Montreal, have returned to work after Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon issued an order to end labour disputes, citing the economic risks of prolonged disruptions. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) mandated binding arbitration to resolve the conflicts and ensure operations resumed promptly.
On the West Coast, 700 foremen in British Columbia, returned to work on November 14 after a 10-day lockout, while on the East Coast, 1,200 dockworkers in Montreal resumed operations on November 16 following a week-long lockout.
ILWU Canada was not happy with the decision saying this was the fourth time this year the government has used Section 107 provisions to order workers back to work and send bargaining into binding administration. The move was described as “trampling on the normal bargaining process and infringing the right to strike.” CUPE and ILWU have called on Canadian Labour Congress affiliates to condemn the action and call for the bargaining process to be maintained.
“Additionally, both CUPE and ILWU further request that affiliates consider acting as intervenors in the challenges related to these matters,” ILWU said last week.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has confirmed that operations have resumed at Port of Vancouver terminals and that a priority-based anchorage allocation system is being implemented to balance the needs of all business sectors and commodities while addressing the backlog.
“As terminal operations resume, ships are starting to make their way to berth. However, demand for all anchorage class assignments remains high and availability is limited,” the port authority said last Thursday.
Based on the container vessel line-up data from November 19, the port had 7 vessels at berth, 5 vessels waiting at anchor and five ships dwelling outside the port authority’s jurisdiction. Some of these include container ships that arrived at anchor on November 9. For bulk vessels, the figures show that there were 21 vessels at berth, and 41 at anchor, predominantly transporting coal and grain.
The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) confirmed that operations at all terminals began at 7 a.m. on November 16. In a statement, the MPA said it is working with port and intermodal partners to implement a recovery plan. However, the backlog, including over 5,000 containers on-site, 55,000 feet of rail cargo, and 22 vessels in transit or at anchor, may take weeks to clear.
“It may take a few weeks to re-establish the fluidity of the supply chain and process all goods, both imports and exports, currently at the Port of Montreal or in transit and due to arrive in the next few days,” the port said.
“The CIRB’s decision will result in a new collective agreement between the parties, and no pressure tactics can be used by either party, ensuring the Port remains fully operational.”
Maersk, which had several vessels delayed due to the labour disruptions at Canadian terminals, said that challenges are to be expected as terminals, rails, and carriers return to service and work to clear the backlog and congestion.
“Maersk will resume the demurrage & detention clock on the day gate operations restart at affected ocean terminals. For cargo being received at inland locations for loading at affected ocean terminals, we will resume the clock when equipment receipt restarts at those inland locations,” the company said on November 18.
