KAP and Manitoba Pork are calling for decisive action from the federal government to end a costly strike at Canada’s western ports.
“The Canadian supply chain and reputation of the reliability of our products abroad run the risk of being significantly damaged in international markets,” said Brenna Mahoney, general manager of Keystone Agricultural Producers in a news release.
KAP joined representatives of the Manitoba Pork Council to issue a statement on July 12, day 12 of the strike.
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It began July 1 when 7,500 dock workers represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) walked off the job after failing to broker a wage deal with the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA).
The strike affected two of Canada’s busiest ports—the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Prince Rupert.
KAP and Manitoba Pork said that in the first week of the strike, they’d sent letters to the ILWU and BCMEA to highlight their concerns. They’d also contacted the federal minister of labour, Seamus O’Regan.
On July 11, O’Regan asked a federal mediator to recommend terms to end the strike. It appeared both sides had received the terms and been given 24 hours assess them, the Canadian Press reported on July 12.
“We appreciate Minister O’Regan’s directive to the federal mediator, but in contrast to the back-to-work legislation that was brought forward to address the Port of Montreal strike in 2021, the federal government has refused to take direct action that would end the strike and the associated impacts on our supply chain,” said Mahoney.
By July 11, the cost of the strike was an estimated C$5.5 billion, Reuters reported, and had led fertilizer giant Nutrien to slow production.
Manitoba Pork said the hog sector has been especially at risk during the labour stoppage and the days leading up to it, as about $730 million worth of Manitoban pork travels through the ports each year.
“Some of our most valuable exports are chilled pork moving into premium markets like Japan,” said Manitoba Pork Chair, Rick Préjet. “Chilled pork cannot be even slightly delayed in getting to market.”
“Not only does this labour disruption put current sales at risk, recurring port shutdowns harm Canada’s long-term reputation as a reliable supplier,” Prejet added.
