LETTER ON THE POTENTIAL LOCKOUT AT WEST COAST TERMINALS

Dear Minister MacKinnon,

The potential lockout at British Columbia container terminals beginning November 4^th is catastrophic for Canada’s pulse sector.

As you well know, the lockout at west coast terminals will compound the significant uncertainty already facing our sector because of the strikes at the Viau and Maisonneuve terminals at the Port of Montreal. The fall shipping season is a peak shipping season for pulse and special crop exports, 33% of which utilize container supply chains. Historically, over 300,000 tonnes of pulses and special crops moves in the months of October and November alone. These work stoppages are impacting farmers and the small and medium sized exporters in Canada that move their product to customers who do have competitive options from other regions.

There’s a growing consensus that Canada needs long-term solutions that ensure that the broader Canadian economy isn’t constantly held hostage by labour negotiations. The labour dispute between the BCMEA and the ILWU is particularly contentious with the ILWU already found to be bargaining in bad faith by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). It is clear that without direct Government of Canada intervention, these 2 parties will find it very difficult achieve a negotiated outcome.

All necessary steps to end the threat of a lockout and mitigate the harm to the Canadian pulse and special crop industry and the wider Canadian economy must be taken, including the personal intervention by the Minister at the negotiations and the use of s.107 of the Canada Labour Code.

Sincerely,

Greg Cherewyk
President
Pulse Canada