Canadian Meat Council asks government to intervene in port closures

As labor disruptions and port closures continue at key Canadian ports, including the Port of Montreal and those in British Columbia, the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) called for immediate action from the federal government to resolve the labor disputes.

“Our sector exports almost $10 billion dollars in red meat products per year,” said Chris White, president and chief executive officer of CMC and Canada Pork. “Without reliable transportation infrastructure, our members face damage to their reputation, increased costs and wasted food products. This instability is challenging for the member companies, and we cannot afford to let these disruptions continue.”

The port closures are causing significant disruptions to the supply chain, exacerbating shipping delays and supply shortages, the group said. Both imports and exports are being affected, which puts pressure on manufacturers and retailers who rely on the timely movement of goods.

Two of the Port of Montreal’s busiest terminals, Viau and Maisonneuve, are responsible for 40% of all container traffic and have been on indefinite strike since Oct. 31. Meanwhile, labor disruptions at several major British Columbia ports have significantly contributed to the slowed flow of goods into and out of the province.

The labor disputes are between the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 as they work to reach a new contract. On Nov. 4, BCMEA issued a lockout of over 700 unionized foremen in response to ILWU’s 72-hour strike notice of limited job action of an overtime ban.

“Our members have repeatedly tried since our contract expired on March 31, 2023, to bargain a new contract without any job action, but the BCMEA employers have refused to move and now want to create a crisis instead of negotiating,” said Frank Morena, president of ILWU Local 514.

He claimed that ILWU was participating in mediation efforts with the assistance of the Federal Conciliation and Mediation Service, but BCMEA did not show up for scheduled sessions nor give notice of its absence. BCMEA, however, denies ever missing a scheduled bargaining session.