BC Proposes Fair Wages for Port Truckers
The Government of British Columbia said it has listened to the truckers serving Port Metro Vancouver and has released its proposed rate structure, which will soon be brought into force, providing fair wages for these truckers plus other improvements moving forward.
The Province added that it is taking steps to resolve undercutting within the container trucking industry that made it difficult for truckers serving the port to consistently earn a fair wage. This undercutting raised tensions and negatively impacted the port’s operations.
The B.C. government has worked hard with the Government of Canada, Port Metro Vancouver, mediators Vince Ready and Corrin Bell, industry, labor and truckers since March to improve wages and working conditions for truckers.
There are new rates for truckers, retroactive to April 3, 2014. A table with the proposed rate structure is available in the factsheet that follows.
In March 2014, a Joint Action Plan was agreed upon by the United Truckers’ Association, Unifor and the provincial and federal governments.
With the imminent provincial regulations coming into force, 12 of the 14 actions in the Joint Action Plan will now be complete for this sector, including:
- Minimum rates for all truckers that serve the port on and off dock.
- A 2% fuel surcharge in place.
- A whistleblower line in place.
- All trucking companies now subject to enhanced audit.
- An end to all Port Metro Vancouver legal proceedings.
- Extended hours at Vanterm, Centerm and Deltaport.
- Wait time fees in place and 100% payable to truckers.
- Terminal Gate Compliance Fee waived by the port.
- Mediation assistance offered to truckers and their employer companies.
- GPS units installed within all TLS-licensed trucks.
- Steering committee (in place from April through September 2014).
- Vince Ready/Corrin Bell recommendations issued in September 2014.
Port Metro Vancouver is working on the two remaining Joint Action Plan recommendations:
- TLS reform - new licenses to be issued by Feb. 1, 2015.
- Reservation system - a new system is being built for early 2015.
In the coming weeks, a commissioner will be appointed to provide oversight to the industry.
