Port operations are resuming at Canada’s West Coast Ports and in Montreal following an announcement yesterday from the Canadian government.

Canada’s Labor Minister, Stephen MacKinnon, ordered the resumption and has invoked authority under Canada’s labor code that will force longshore unions and their respective employer groups to come to terms on new collective bargaining agreements with the aid of a government arbitrator. This ends a nearly two-week work stoppage at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert after the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) locked out port workers after they voted for a strike. This resolution also marks an end to a wave of limited strikes and stoppages at the Port of Montreal, initiated in early October by the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 375.

The coast-to-coast port closures delayed the discharge and loading of ocean containers, and led Canada’s two (2) primary rail networks to temporarily suspend intermodal operations at these key ports. Some continued delays and backlog is expected for shipments moving via Vancouver in the short term, and there may be some knock-on effects for containers moving via Seattle/Tacoma as well. However, industry experts do not expect there to be any long-standing disruptions as a result of the work stoppage.

RIM will continue to closely monitor this evolving situation and keep you updated of any pertinent updates. Please reach out to your RIM representative should you have any further questions.