Strike Paralyzes Canadian West Coast Container Terminals

Company CultureHigh Tech / High TouchTrade & Border IssuesHot Spots
Written By Jennifer Joslyn

A union strike has brought container terminals at Canada's West Coast ports to a halt, causing significant disruptions to supply chains. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association failed to reach an agreement, resulting in the strike that began on July 1. The strike mainly impacts containerized operations in key seaports like Vancouver and Prince Rupert, prompting concerns over supply chain effects, inflation, trade reputation, and potential cargo diversions. While proposals have been made to resolve the strike, challenges remain, including the enforcement of new terms and the need for investments in sustainable technologies.

Read more from Supply Chain Dive ▶

Featured
Wildfires Disrupt Oil Sands Operations in Alberta
Wildfires Disrupt Oil Sands Operations in Alberta

Wildfires in northern Alberta are causing some oil sands operations to take precautions.

Canadian Railways On The Brink of Work Stoppage Amid Contract Deadlock
Canadian Railways On The Brink of Work Stoppage Amid Contract Deadlock

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.

UPS Expands Saturday Home Delivery Service Across Canada
UPS Expands Saturday Home Delivery Service Across Canada

Oh, Canada! UPS is launching a new Saturday home delivery service in key Canadian markets, starting with Toronto and expanding to Greater Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Laval by March.

Canadian Authorities Suspend Trucking Companies After Tunnel and Highway Accidents
Canadian Authorities Suspend Trucking Companies After Tunnel and Highway Accidents

Canadian authorities have taken action against two Vancouver-area trucking companies following accidents involving their vehicles.

FDA Approves Florida's Plan to Import Affordable Canadian Medications
FDA Approves Florida's Plan to Import Affordable Canadian Medications

The Food and Drug Administration has given Florida the green light to import medications from Canada - a move aimed at lowering drug prices in the United States.

Quebec Trucking Firm VP Sentenced to 10 Years in U.S. for Cross-Border Cocaine Smuggling
Quebec Trucking Firm VP Sentenced to 10 Years in U.S. for Cross-Border Cocaine Smuggling

Guillaume Latour-Laitre, the vice president of a Quebec trucking firm, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the United States for his involvement in a cross-border cocaine smuggling operation.

Quebec's Road Safety Plan: Concerns of Conflicting Vehicle Safety Standards
Quebec's Road Safety Plan: Concerns of Conflicting Vehicle Safety Standards

Quebec's new Road Safety Action Plan includes the development of a "safety index" for heavy vehicles to protect vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians.

Canada Takes a Stand Against Forced Labor with New Supply Chain Ethics Act
Canada Takes a Stand Against Forced Labor with New Supply Chain Ethics Act

On May 11, 2023, Canada passed the Fighting Against Forced Labor and Child Labor in Supply Chains Act, which requires Canadian businesses to demonstrate due diligence in minimizing the risks of forced and child labor in their supply chains.

Canadian Trucking Company Ordered to Rehire Truck Driver Fired for Drinking and Driving
Canadian Trucking Company Ordered to Rehire Truck Driver Fired for Drinking and Driving

A female truck driver was fired by Groupe Robert, a Canadian trucking company, after a crash on June 30th, 2022.

Rail Freight from Canada to U.S. Witnesses Ongoing Decline Following Ports Strike
Rail Freight from Canada to U.S. Witnesses Ongoing Decline Following Ports Strike

Rail freight from Canada to the U.S. has experienced a continuous decline, with a 12% decrease reported last week, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Pentagon Initiates Search for Chip-Mineral Gallium as China Restricts Export Access
Pentagon Initiates Search for Chip-Mineral Gallium as China Restricts Export Access

The Pentagon plans to issue its first contract to U.S. or Canadian companies by the end of 2023 to recover gallium, a crucial mineral used in semiconductors and military radar systems after China restricted its exports.

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 ended, as Canada’s Labor Minister and Transport Minister on Twitter announced.

Labor Agreement Resolves Disruption at Vancouver and Prince Rupert Ports
Labor Agreement Resolves Disruption at Vancouver and Prince Rupert Ports

After 13 days of closure, the container shipping ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert in British Columbia, Canada, are set to reopen soon following the resolution of a labor dispute.

Canadian West Coast Ports Strike Disrupts U.S. Freight Rail Cargo, Triggering Supply Chain Concerns
Canadian West Coast Ports Strike Disrupts U.S. Freight Rail Cargo, Triggering Supply Chain Concerns

The ongoing strike at Canadian West Coast ports is causing a significant impact on freight rail cargo entering the United States, according to weekly rail trade data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Forced Labor Allegations Prompt Investigation of Nike and Dynasty Gold
Forced Labor Allegations Prompt Investigation of Nike and Dynasty Gold

Canadian ethics watchdog, the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), has initiated investigations into Nike Canada and Dynasty Gold following allegations of their involvement or benefit from Uyghur forced labor in their Chinese operations.

Progress Made in Ending Canadian Port Strike, Final Agreement Expected
Progress Made in Ending Canadian Port Strike, Final Agreement Expected

Canadian Labor Minister Seamus O'Regan has reported progress in negotiations to end the strike by dockworkers at major Canadian ports, including Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

Import Cargo Volume at US Ports Set to Peak in August, but Labor Disputes Pose Concerns for Retailers
Import Cargo Volume at US Ports Set to Peak in August, but Labor Disputes Pose Concerns for Retailers

The Global Port Tracker report indicates that import cargo volume at major container ports in the United States is expected to increase towards a peak in August.

Strike Paralyzes Canadian West Coast Container Terminals
Strike Paralyzes Canadian West Coast Container Terminals

A union strike has brought container terminals at Canada's West Coast ports to a halt, causing significant disruptions to supply chains.

Labor Strikes at Canadian West Coast Ports Lead to Diversion of Containerships to Seattle
Labor Strikes at Canadian West Coast Ports Lead to Diversion of Containerships to Seattle

Two containerships originally bound for the Port of Vancouver have been redirected to the Port of Seattle as labor strikes at West Coast ports in Canada continue for the sixth day.

Dockworker Strike in Canada Threatens Economy and Reputation as Exports Are Impacted
Dockworker Strike in Canada Threatens Economy and Reputation as Exports Are Impacted

A prolonged strike by dockworkers on Canada's west coast has raised concerns among business groups about the country's economy and reputation.

West Coast Port Workers in Canada Commence Official Strike
West Coast Port Workers in Canada Commence Official Strike

The International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada's Longshore Division has officially begun a strike, impacting West Coast ports in Canada, including Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

Port Operators Unveil Comprehensive End-to-End Offerings
Port Operators Unveil Comprehensive End-to-End Offerings

As the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significance of global supply chains, Canadian port operators are expanding their services beyond traditional freight handling.

New hydrogen locomotives from CPKC and CSX
New hydrogen locomotives from CPKC and CSX

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CSX Corp. have announced a joint venture to develop and deploy hydrogen conversion kits for diesel-electric locomotives, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the freight rail industry.

Canadian Dockworker Strike Threatens Supply Chain, Raising Concerns for US Ports and Consumers
Canadian Dockworker Strike Threatens Supply Chain, Raising Concerns for US Ports and Consumers

Over 7,000 unionized dockworkers in Canada may go on strike soon, causing potential disruptions in the supply chain that could impact the US and consumer prices.

Eastern Canada Wildfires Blanket US Cities in Smoke, Raising Climate Change Concerns
Eastern Canada Wildfires Blanket US Cities in Smoke, Raising Climate Change Concerns

Smoke from severe wildfires in eastern Canada has caused a significant decline in air quality across the US, impacting states as far west as Minnesota and as far south as South Carolina.

Flight Disruptions Continue in Eastern U.S. as Canada Wildfire Smoke Returns
Flight Disruptions Continue in Eastern U.S. as Canada Wildfire Smoke Returns

Wildfire smoke from Canada caused flight disruptions in the Eastern U.S. on Thursday, following delays the previous day due to decreased visibility.

G-7 Prioritizes Strengthening Banks and Supply Chains Amidst Accusations of Hypocrisy
G-7 Prioritizes Strengthening Banks and Supply Chains Amidst Accusations of Hypocrisy

The Group of Seven (G-7) advanced economies held closed-door financial talks in Japan, focusing on issues such as bank runs, cybersecurity, and building more reliable supply chains for economic security.

Hub Group partners with CN to speed up intermodal and shipping
Hub Group partners with CN to speed up intermodal and shipping

Hub Group sees potential for growth with its rail partner Union Pacific and the carrier’s new alliance with CN and Ferromex, creating a new cross-border service from Canada to Mexico via Chicago.

Canadian Pacific and KC Southern Railroad Merger Announced
Canadian Pacific and KC Southern Railroad Merger Announced

The merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern has now been finalized, giving rise to a new competitor to the trucking industry.

Changes have come to the U.S./Canadian Border
Changes have come to the U.S./Canadian Border

The Canada-United States border has undergone some changes due to decreased volume during the pandemic.

Jennifer Joslyn
Previous

IMO Adopts Stricter Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets for Global Shipping Industry
Next

Labor Issues Continue to Impact US Container Imports, According to Port Tracker Report