B.C. ports, union take week to ponder proposals

(Resource News International) — Representatives for unionized ship and dock workers at West Coast ports and for the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) have agreed to a week-long break from labour negotiations, so each can consider the other party’s latest proposal. Greg Vurdela, BCMEA’s vice-president of marketing and information services, said the parties met


Scotia analysts see lower earnings for Viterra

(Resource News International) — While 2009 will be another strong year earnings-wise for Viterra, it will not be quite as good for Canada’s largest grain company as 2008 was, according to a new Scotia Capital equity report. Total earnings (EBITDA) for fiscal year 2009 were pegged by Scotia Capital on Jan. 9 at $393 million,

B.C. port talks proceed; truckers also may walk

(Resource News International) — Dock and ship foremen at West Coast ports continue to hold off on striking as negotiations surrounding new collective agreements plod forward. The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) tabled its “comprehensive response” Friday to a Jan. 3 proposal by the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514. Greg Vurdela,


Possibility of strike already impacts B.C. ports

(Resource News International) –– Canada’s busy West Coast ports are already feeling the impact of a possible strike by ship and dock foremen belonging to Local 514 of the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union (ILWU) of Canada. Roughly 425 workers at ports in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert have voted to strike

Spring fertilizer crunch coming?

Reduced demand for fertilizer this fall has sparked concerns about shortages in 2009. “Farmers are trying to wait as long as they can to see if prices will keep coming down and yet on the other side of the coin, there is the concern about whether or not the supply will be there in the


B.C. port negotiators weigh union contract offer

(Resource News International) — The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) said Sunday it will mull over a contract offer made over the weekend by Local 514 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada (ILWU). The offer was presented in the early morning hours on Sunday and capped off a negotiating session between

Wheat exports catch up to 2007-08 pace

(Resource News International) — The Canadian Wheat Board’s wheat export program was slow to get going in 2008-09 but has nearly caught up to last year’s pace heading into the second stretch of the marketing year. According to the Canadian Grain Commission’s grain handling summary for week 21 ended Dec. 21, Canadian non-durum wheat exports


West Coast port workers able to strike Friday

(Resource News International) — The threat of a strike at Canada’s busiest West Coast ports still looms after meetings Monday between a port workers’ union and their employers failed to result in a new labour contract. According to an update on the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) website, scheduled negotiations resumed Monday with the

Specs, competitors pressure malting barley

(Resource News International) — Many Prairie producers with selectable barley sitting on their farms may find their chances limited for still having it selected as malting barley. Tougher malt specifications and a struggling Canadian Wheat Board barley export program are limiting those opportunities. And this year, thanks to good quality and high production, there is