Port of Vancouver grain workers hit picket line as dispute with terminal operators escalates

Fifty-two per cent of grain produced in Canada last year was shipped to terminals at the Port of Vancouver

Some parts of Canada’s largest port have come to a standstill due to a labour dispute, giving farmers another thing to worry about during harvest season and amplifying concerns that the country’s supply chain is broken.

The Grain Workers Union (GWU) Local 333 workers walked off the job Tuesday morning at the Vancouver Terminal Elevators’ Association (VTEA), after serving it with a 72-hour strike notice on Saturday. The VTEA represents six of the major grain terminal operators located at the port, including Cargill Inc., Richardson International Ltd. and G3 Canada Ltd.