Media Advisory - Container truck drivers to meet to discuss port protests

SURREY, BC, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Container truck drivers servicing Port Metro Vancouver will be meeting to discuss action following Monday’s proposal from the BC government for sector-wide wage cuts. “A deal is a deal. Truck drivers have every right to expect that the wages and round-trip rates negotiated will be honoured,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor’s BC Area Director. “We’re used to companies undercutting each other, but the BC government is undercutting the rates we negotiated with them in March. This will not bring labour peace at the Port,” said Paul Johal, President of Unifor-Vancouver Container Truckers’ Association (VCTA). Container truckers shut down Port Metro Vancouver for nearly four weeks in March 2014 as a result of undercutting by trucking companies and long wait times at the port. Truckers went back to work after a Joint Action Plan was signed with the Port, the BC government, and the federal government. The Plan included commissioning a report from mediator Vince Ready and Corinne Bell, which was published in September. It was intended to provide feedback on procedural and regulatory issues with the Plan, not as a way to undermine the negotiated wage rates. Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing more than 305,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged. SOURCE Unifor