Union truckers meet with government to discuss recent proposal

VANCOUVER – Unionized truckers met with government officials today to discuss a recent proposal to try to end a strike that has helped crippled the port of Vancouver.

Gavin McGarrigle, who represents 400 union truckers, says he hopes progress can be made, but calls the government’s new offer vague.

He says any developments from today’s meetings will be taken back to union members.

Port Metro Vancouver has also committed to ending a lawsuit it filed against the truckers and renew suspended licences, so long as those suspensions didn’t involve suspected criminal activity.

The labour dispute has largely focused on issues relating to pay, including the truckers’ wages and the amount of unpaid time they spend waiting for cargo at container terminals.

The unionized truckers went on strike last month, joining a thousand non-unionized truckers who walked off the job last month.

Officials with the port estimate the strike has affected about $885 million worth of cargo per week and has prompted Prime Minister Stephen Harper to call it a threat to the economy.