is blaming the “greed” of shippers as the labour action disrupts potash production amid billions of dollars in international trade halted.
“They took advantage of the chaos and disruption associated with the COVID pandemic to dramatically raise shipping charges.” The strike by 7,400 unionized waterfront employees started on Canada Day, hitting the Port of Vancouver, the Port of Prince Rupert in northern B.C. and terminals on Vancouver Island.
A coalition of business groups has been urging the federal Liberal government to recall Parliament to introduce back-to-work legislation. But Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan has repeatedly said the focus must be on reaching a settlement at the bargaining table. The shipping industry deploys large vessels to carry containers, which are reusable steel boxes measured as 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs. The cargo shipped in the containers includes imported goods from Asia and exports of Canadian raw materials such as potash.
Potash is among the key exports suspended at Neptune Bulk Terminals Ltd. in North Vancouver and Pacific Coast Terminals Co. Ltd. in Port Moody.