The Canadian federal government, the provincial government of British Columbia and Port Metro Vancouver have announced a 14-point action plan that authorities believe will end the two-week strike by harbor truck drivers that has reduced truck traffic to 15 to 25 percent of normal levels.
Implementation of the action plan, which would revise the truck licensing system at Canada’s largest port, will only take place if both unionized drivers and independent owner-operators return to work. The port authority, which controls issuance of the licenses that drivers must have to operate in the harbor, is expected to use that authority as leverage to get the drivers back to work.
Most likely, drivers that refuse to return to work will lose their licenses to call at marine terminals. The joint government/port authority statement said those drivers who refuse to immediately return to work will jeopardize their opportunity to provide drayage services at the port.
