Robb M. Stewart of The Wall Street Journal reports that the walkout on Canada’s west coast is the latest in a string of labor actions to hit the country’s supply chains. Stewart writes:
Grain terminal workers on Canada’s west coast walked off the job, threatening exports of canola and other crops during the busy harvest season.
Members of Grain Workers Union Local 333 went on strike Tuesday morning after talks with the Vancouver Terminal Elevators’ Association broke down last week. The union issued a 72-hour strike notice Saturday morning.
The work stoppage affects six terminals at the Port of Vancouver, British Columbia, that are critical for exports of canola, wheat, barley and other grains from Canada’s prairies. The port warned of vessel delays and heightened anchorage demand if the disruption to bulk grain exports continues.
Grain Growers of Canada, which represents more than 65,000 producers, said the strike will halt nearly 100,000 metric tons of grain arriving at the terminals each day, resulting in a loss in potential daily exports of 35 million Canadian dollars, the equivalent of about $26 million. […]
The Grain Workers Union represents roughly 750 workers at eight grain terminals on British Columbia’s coast, including at Prince Rupert.
Read more here.
