Canadian farmers once again find themselves caught in the middle of labour disputes at shipping ports.
In Vancouver, B.C., the BC Maritime Employers Association locked out about 700 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union 514
And in Montreal, Que., the Viau and Maisonneuve terminals, which account for about 40 per cent of the Port of Montreal’s handling capacity, are closed due to a strike.
More than 2,000 vessels per year travel through the Port of Montreal.
“Grain shipments have never been impacted this much in one year, let alone in a four-month period,” he told Farms.com. “It’s had a heavy impact on our international reputation.”
On Nov. 12, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon called for final and binding arbitration to end the disputes.