Three separate labour disputes at the Port of Prince Rupert are affecting operations, including a Trigon strike, an SGS strike, and a Wolverine lockout.
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A trio of labour disputes at the Port of Prince Rupert could slow shipments overseas as Canada seeks to diversify trade, according to reporting on the issues.
The disputes are already having an impact, including an announcement by AltaGas that it is preparing for a slowdown in propane shipments, the reporting said.
The issues involve three sets of workers operating or testing export-related goods at the port: Trigon, SGS Minerals, and Wolverine Terminals.
About 110 workers at Trigon have been on the picket line since Oct. 2, represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 523. The workers unload coal and petroleum coke from trains, move the materials through the terminal, and load them onto ships for export.
The reporting said Trigon provides rail logistics and berthing services for the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal operated by AltaGas, and also runs the largest bulk export terminal in northern B.C.
ILWU Local 523 said the dispute includes demands for improved wages, benefits and scheduling, along with concerns that more automated equipment could be introduced and reduce the need for workers, the reporting said.
At SGS Minerals, four lab and preparation technicians represented by ILWU Local 505 have been on strike since late summer. The reporting said SGS tests materials for export, and that the strike could require samples to be sent to other B.C. laboratories, raising costs and causing delays.
ILWU Local 505 was certified as a bargaining unit in November 2024, and the reporting said the union is negotiating its first collective agreement with wages identified as the key issue.
At Wolverine Terminals, just under 10 employees represented by ILWU Local 400 have been locked out since the start of November. The reporting said the workers maintain and discharge oil barges that support shipping lines calling at the port.
Local 400 is also seeking its first collective agreement, with wages and scheduling identified as the main issues, the reporting said.
The reporting said AltaGas issued an Oct. 27 warning that the Trigon strike was causing it to prepare for a slowdown in operations at its propane export facility.
It also cited RailState rail data showing the number of coal and petroleum coke trains arriving at Trigon Pacific Terminals fell by 48 per cent between August/September and October, from an average of 11.2 trains per week to 5.8.
According to the same reporting, Conuma Coal, described as Trigon’s largest customer, went from 8.1 coal trains per week to 2.9, and some trains were diverted to Westshore Terminals in Vancouver.
For the next steps, the reporting said the Canada Industrial Relations Board rejected a Trigon complaint in October alleging the union was bargaining in bad faith, and that the strike was upheld.
The reporting also said Trigon was ordered to stop using contractors for some duties that normally would be done by regular workers, including specified work handling liquefied petroleum gas rail cars.
In a statement, Trigon said its management team has continued base level operations for customers since the employee walkout, and that discussions between the parties have continued, though the sides remain far apart on key issues.
As a result of the connected disputes, the reporting said a “hot cargo edict” was issued on Nov. 2 by the B.C. Federation of Labour covering coal, petroleum coke and liquefied petroleum gas products at the Trigon terminal, including products under Trigon’s control or that have crossed or are about to cross the Local 523 picket line.
Local 505 president Keith Cociani said affiliated unions were asked not to handle those products, and that replacement workers used for switch work for AltaGas were connected to the testing being done at SGS.
The reporting said the three disputes are connected.
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