Last week West Coast port workers in Canada officially began their strike. More than 99% of members of the union, who support West Coast ports such as Vancouver and Prince Rupert, voted to approve the strike, with a notice of the strike announced last Wednesday.

The Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce is sending a letter of support regarding the labour dispute.

“It was really important for us to speak up and represent our business community on this issue,” says Kristi Maier, Executive Director of the RMCC. “This is right in our backyard and will impact us greatly if it continues. We are the voice of business and need to be there for our communities.” Maier emphasizes the significance of taking a stance and advocating for the concerns of local businesses regarding the labour dispute at Canada’s West Coast Port.

The union has been open to bargaining since the beginning of 2023 with the BC Maritime Employers Association. Negotiations with the International Longshore & Warehouse Union and Canada’s Longshore Division are currently paused, pending further discussion with federal mediators.

Vessel Transit and turnaround times are set to increase because of the strike and congestion looks to be mounting. There is an estimated $19 billion in trade stranded off the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert.
To position Canada as a reliable trading partner that is competitive in the global economy, businesses must be able to get foods reliably and efficiently to and from the market.

The RMCC will continue to monitor and relay details on the dispute and hope to see a resolution brought forward quickly.