This article is reprinted from the USDA's Jan. 8 Grain Transportation Report.
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) foremen and dockworkers have threatened to strike at the
British Columbian ports—including Vancouver and Prince Rupert—if union contract terms are not finalized soon.
The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association is reviewing the latest ILWU proposal offered over the
weekend and is planning to respond by January 9.
About 450 of the ILWU sh ip and dock foremen have been
working without a contract since March 2007.
If the strike occurs, the other dockworkers—nearly 5,000— are
ex pected to strike in support of their fellow union members.
Federal law protects bulk grain movements from
disruption during strikes, but container movements will be affected.
The U .S. trade uses these Canadian ports for
movements of grain in bulk and by container.
Because of uncertainty, many shippers have reported diverting cargo
to the U.S. PNW port region.
For more information, call Surajudeen (Deen) Olowolayemo, USDA, at 202-690-1328.
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