In an attempt to get striking truckers back on the job, Port Metro Vancouver and the British Columbia Trucking Association (BCTA) have released an eight-point plan they say addresses many of the concerns raised by truckers.
But the document does not solve key problems with the container trucking system, said representatives from the United Truckers Association (UTA) and the Unifor-affiliated Vancouver Container Truckers Association (VCTA).
Both groups say long waiting times at the terminals are cutting into truckers' pay. The VCTA, whose last collective agreement expired in June 2012, is also asking for a pay rate increase and for the federal and provincial governments to appoint labour mediator Vince Ready to broker an agreement.
"Rather than Port Metro resolving the issues at hand, they've gone and done a back-door deal with the employers and try to throw a carrot out to our members … and get them back to work," Manny Dosange, spokesman for the United Truckers Association, told Business in Vancouver.
Members of the UTA began a protest and work stoppage at Metro Vancouver port terminals on February 26. On March 1, VCTA members voted unanimously to strike and issued strike notice March 3, saying a strike will begin if outstanding issues can't be resolved by noon on March 6.
The eight-point proposal includes a plan to extend gate hours, a commitment to conduct an audit of trucking rates, waiving the terminal gate compliance fee if truckers "encounter extensive delays," and the introduction of a fee that would be paid to trucking companies impacted by cargo processing delays.
The port authority and BCTA, which represents trucking companies, are also proposing to terminate the permit of any protesting trucker who engaged in vandalism or actively blocked vehicles from entering the port. On February 28, Port Metro Vancouver released video surveillance footage it says shows protestors stopping a truck and cutting its brake line.
The port authority says it would then lift a current moratorium on new truck licenses to replace the terminated truckers.
That measure would only apply to truckers who have committed illegal acts and not to truck drivers who have been protesting peacefully, said Caroline Price, a communications advisor with Port Metro Vancouver.
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