Canadian West Coast Ports Strike Ends, but Supply Chain Recovery Expected to Take Weeks
🇨🇦 Canadian West Coast Ports Strike Ends, but Supply Chain Recovery Expected to Take Weeks.
The 13-day labor strike at the West Coast ports in Canada has come to an end, as announced by Canada's Labor Minister and Transport Minister on Twitter. However, the recovery of the supply chain from the strike is expected to take weeks. The strike had significant implications for the Canadian and U.S. economies, causing congestion in ocean cargo, inbound rails, and various sectors such as chemicals, oil, lumber, and construction minerals. While the strike has ended, the congestion and delays caused by the prolonged work stoppage will have lasting effects on the ports. It will take several weeks to regain operational efficiencies and restore normal supply chain flow. The combined delays in vessel wait times, unloading, and container loading onto rails may extend from a month to at least two months for shipments arriving in the United States.
The union representing nearly 9,300 workers at Canada’s top two rail companies is signaling a potential work stoppage due to stalled negotiations over working conditions and wage hikes.