Negotiations in Vancouver port truckers’ dispute as back-to-work bill looms

VICTORIA – Negotiations continue in an attempt to resolve a prolonged truckers strike at Canada’s largest port, days after the British Columbia government tabled back-to-work legislation.

More than 1,200 truckers have been on strike for weeks, dramatically reducing traffic at four Vancouver-area shipping container terminals.

The province tabled back-to-work legislation earlier this week that would have affected about 250 unionized workers, while the port warned striking workers wouldn’t have their licences renewed.

Unifor, which represents the unionized truckers, and a group representing non-union workers, were set to attend a news conference today in Victoria, but it has been repeatedly delayed as officials meet.

Unifor president Jerry Dias emerged briefly to apologize for the delays, saying bargaining is taking place at the legislature.

When asked if a deal was close, Dias said only that “everybody’s working at it.”