Union, grain terminal association reach tentative deal, ending strike in Metro Vancouver

A tentative deal was reached Friday evening between the Grain Workers Union Local 333 and the Vancouver Terminal Elevators Asscociation (VTEA), says Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon in a post on social media site “X”.

Grain Workers Union Local 333 and the Vancouver Terminal Elevators’ Association have reached a tentative agreement to get Canada’s harvest to market.

Thanks to the parties for putting in the work necessary to get a deal done, and to federal mediators for their support.
— Steven MacKinnon (@stevenmackinnon) September 28, 2024

The next step is for members of GWU Local 333 to ratify the deal with a vote scheduled for October 4.

Industry sources say the deal’s term runs through December 31, 2027, adding employees are to return to work as of 7 a.m. Pacific Time Saturday.

News of the tentative agreement ends a strike of more than 600 workers from six grain terminals in Metro Vancouver that began on Tuesday morning after negotiations, which initially started late last year, stalled over wages, pension, and scheduling. Federal mediators worked alongside the union and terminal association in order to reach an agreement.

This is the second labour dispute to halt the shipment of grain and other products as the federal government ordered CPKC and CN Rail workers to return to work in late-August. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, the union representing those workers, is challenging the constitutionality of the order given by Labour Minister MacKinnon. And there is a third dispute on the horizon as the union representing workers at the Port of Montreal issued 72-hour strike notice Friday, putting them in a legal strike position for Monday.

Farm groups have expressed concerns over the repeated labour disruptions hurting Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier, and coming at a time when producers are in the midst of harvest and rely on the timely movement of grain to generate an income.