Threat of legislation doesn’t convince Vancouver port truckers to return to work

VANCOUVER – Truckers that serve Vancouver-area container terminals remain on strike, despite the B.C. government’s promise of back-to-work legislation and the port’s decision to terminate licences for some workers.

The B.C. government announced plans to table legislation, as Port Metro Vancouver sent as many as 150 truckers notices that their licences to use the port wouldn’t be renewed.

The moves came as governments and the port attempt to increase pressure on the truckers, who have been off the job for weeks, crippling the port’s operations.

The strike involves more than a 1,000 non-unionized truckers who parked their rigs last month, as well as several hundred unionized members of Unifor.

Union spokesman Gavin McGarrigle says the union hasn’t yet decided whether it will respect back-to-work legislation, but he says some truckers have told him they’re willing to go to jail to press their concerns.

McGarrigle says the union will be in a better position to decide its response after reading the legislation, which is expected to be tabled in the provincial legislature as early as Monday.