VANCOUVER, B.C. – Metro Vancouver container truck drivers have reached an agreement with labour union Unifor after several days at the bargaining table, with companies including AG, Aheer, Forward, Prudential and Sunlover all voting in favour of new collective agreements that will run until July 2019.

Approximately 75% of truck drivers represented by Unifor now have a collective agreement, which will require all outstanding retro pay be provided to drivers within 30 days (spurred by a review by the Office of the Container Truck Commissioner), improved rates for CN and CP moves and fixes be brought to the pay chart for ‘off dock’ moves.

“These collective agreements are a major step forward for the sector’s drivers,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor’s BC-area director. “Unifor drivers have a major advantage with fair rates and working conditions with this deal.”

Port Transport and Harbour Link remain on the outside looking in, as the two companies have not yet come to an agreement. Port Transport’s workers continue to walk the picket line, while Unifor claims Harbour Link refuses to pay retroactive wages and is seeking a different contract than that signed by other companies Nov. 29.

“With these six deals in hand,” said McGarrigle, “Port Transport and Harbour Link are extremely vulnerable to a loss of business. It is in their interest to get a deal as soon as possible.”

Unifor represents over 310,000 workers and was formed in September 2013 with the merger of the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions.