Port blockades this morning at the Heatley Avenue and Clark Street overpasses haven’t stopped longshoremen from going to work the day that Occupy Vancouver has announced a blockade of local port operations.
“We do believe that labour has gone to work,” Greg Vurdela, vice-president of marketing and information services for the BC Maritime Employers Association, told Business in Vancouver this morning. “I’m staring out my back window at Centerm [Container Terminals] and it’s working.”
Last week, Occupy Vancouver announced plans for a 12-hour blockade of the New Brighton port entrance starting at noon today.
Occupy Vancouver’s website is advertising “Occupy the Ports,” with a gathering planned today at noon at Callister Park, near the New Brighton port entrance. The protest is aligned with a wider planby the Occupy movement to target West Coast ports.
Vurdela said it’s unclear to what extent today’s planned blockades could disrupt Port Metro Vancouver’s activities.
“To tell you the truth, I really couldn’t tell you,” he said. “If they continue to blockade one entrance at a time, probably there will be a disruption. Will it be a significant? Probably not.”
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada issued a statement last week condemning Occupy Vancouver’s plans to descend on the port.
“The ILWU Canada does not support this action in any manner,” the union said in the statement. “The disruption of any of the port in British Columbia under the jurisdiction of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union by any outside group, organization or individuals will not be condoned by the ILWU Canada officers or affiliates.”
Vurdela said the BCMEA is “disappointed” in the protests.
“It seems we are all perplexed at why they would target the ports because, frankly, the ports provide an economic engine for people of all walks of life,” he said. “The port provides about 130,000 jobs here in B.C. and in Western Canada and many of those, like us, are just working people trying to make a living.”
Occupy Vancouver did not respond to an interview request by press deadline.
Jenny Wagler
@JennyWagler_BIV