Owner-Operator Strike Imperils Vancouver Port

Striking owner-operators at the Port of Vancouver are standing fast in their demand to be paid an hourly wage, despite several alternative proposals from trucking company negotiators and Vancouver Port Authority officials.

On Aug. 11, the port authority officially withdrew from the negotiations, frustrated by the lack of flexibility in both sides’ positions. However, the next day, the largest container-hauler in the port agreed to pay drivers by the hour, which owner-operators hope will spur other motor carriers to follow suit.

American Cartage, which hauls about 3,000 cargo containers a week, has decided to do what the drivers want.

“I told [the other trucking company owners] they’re not thinking of the future; they’re just thinking of the next 10 minutes,” said Gloria Vander Schaaf, who owns American Cartage. “We’ve got to be sensible — let’s get this port opened up before we lose our livelihoods.”

Vancouver, which had seen its shipping traffic grow 44% this year, partly as a result of recent work stoppages at U.S. ports on the West Coast, now stands to lose much of that freight if the trucker job action continues. And that means Vancouver’s dream of becoming a port of choice for Asian shipments is in danger of dying on the vine.

The truckers want an industrywide wage of $53 an hour, which when converted from Canadian to U.S. currency would be $35.70. Most motor carriers say to agree to that would be suicide.

For the full story, see the August 16 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.