Media Kit

CP Labour Dispute

Port Metro Vancouver open for business

• May 31, 2012: 

  Today, the bill entitled, ‘An Act to Provide for Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations’, Bill C-39, received royal assent from the Governor General and is now law. Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), the union representing Canadian Pacific (CP) engineers, conductors and rail traffic controllers will resume work at 0645 Friday, June 1, 2012. CP has put in place plans to transition back to full operational capacity. Read more about CP’s plan. Port Metro Vancouver contributes $10 billion to Canada’s GDP, generates more than 129,000 jobs across the nation, including more than 80,000 in B.C.’s Lower Mainland. Port businesses move $200 million worth of cargo every day, more than half of that cargo moves by rail. We thank all of our partners, customers, terminals and stakeholders for their diligent work and cooperation during this labour dispute situation.

• May 28, 2012:

  Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), the union representing CP engineers, conductors and rail traffic controllers has broken off negotiations late afternoon on May 27, 2012. Federal Labour Minister, Hon. Lisa Raitt announced  she will introduce back-to-work legislation to end the strike on May 28, 2012. The bill entitled, An Act to provide for the continuation and resumption of rail service operations, is scheduled to be introduced at approximately 3:00PM EST.The House of Commons is currently debating a motion to ensure passage and closure on debate of the bill.  With work stoppage still in place at this time, the Port is encouraging all federal party leaders to support the passage of the legislation in shortest possible order. 

• May 27, 2012: 

  Port Metro Vancouver has issued a press release today calling for a legislated resolution to the CP labour disupte.  While Port Metro Vancouver acknowledges that both sides are continuing to work towards a resolution, the pressures on the supply chain are becoming severe and the Port is calling on government for an immediate legislated solution to the dispute. With work stoppage still in place at this time, the Port is calling on federal Minister of Labour, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, to immediately introduce the Act to provide for the continuation and resumption of rail service operations legislation and encourage all federal party leaders to support the passage of such legislation in shortest possible order.       

• May 24, 2012: 

  Port Metro Vancouver has issued a press release today encouraging all federal party leaders to support swift passage of Restoring Rail Service Act legislation, and for CP and TCRC to come to a resolution to end the job action. We are in daily communication with our customers to help facilitate continued fluidity of the Gateway. CP and the TCRC continue to meet with the assistance of the federal conciliation and mediation service in Ottawa. Canada’s Labour Minister, The Honourable Lisa Raitt, announced that the federal government has put the Restoring Rail Service Act on notice to end the current Canadian Pacific Railway work stoppage involving the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC).

• May 23, 2012: 

  Canadian Pacific (CP) and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), the union representing CP engineers, conductors and rail traffic controllers in Canada, continue to meet with assistance of the federal conciliation and mediation service in Ottawa. Talks are scheduled for Wednesday, May 23, 2012, however, the union has withdrawn its services to operate freight and passenger trains in Canada. Port Metro Vancouver is actively engaged with terminal operators, transportation providers and government agencies to minimize operational impacts and ensure service consistency for port customers. There are no reported delays at this time. We remain hopeful that an agreement will be reached and ratified.

Learn more

• Read Port Metro Vancouver's release
• Canadian Pacific
• Teamsters Canada Rail Conference

Labour agreements

Port Metro Vancouver delivers certainty for port customers

-- January 31, 2012

• BCMEA/ILWU Local 514 (Foremen) Collective Agreement Ratified:

  The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association and Longshore Foremen Local 514 have ratified their tentative collective agreement. The term of the collective agreement is 8 years in total and will expire on March 31, 2018, identical to that of ILWU Canada (Longshore). Port Metro Vancouver congratulates the parties on achieving a ratified agreement and acknowledges the invaluable assistance provided by Minister of Labour Lisa Raitt and her staff throughout the process. 

• BCMEA/ILWU CANADA (Longshore) Collective Agreement Ratified:

  The BCMEA and ILWU (Longshore) ratified an 8-year Collective Agreement that is in effect until March 31, 2018. Long term stability and reliability is critical to the success of our Gateway. We hope this agreement will create an environment in which to develop a more collaborative and constructive working relationship between labour and employer. We congratulate the BCMEA and ILWU Canada, and acknowledge the efforts of all involved in negotiating this historic agreement.

Learn more