Alberta grain farmers anxiously watching as B.C. export terminal strike lands amid harvest

Alberta's grain farmers are hopeful a labour dispute involving six Metro Vancouver grain terminals will be resolved soon so they can access the main export route for their crops.

On Tuesday morning, workers at the grain terminals headed to the picket lines. That followed the union, Grain Workers Union Local 333, serving strike notice after it and the Vancouver Terminal Elevators Association (VTEA) could not come to an agreement on a new contract.

It's a significant disruption affecting terminal elevators at the Port of Vancouver, which handled around 52 per cent of all grain produced across Canada last year, according to the Grain Growers of Canada.

A statement attributed to Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson, citing data from the Canadian Grain Commission, suggests the work stoppage would disrupt approximately $35 million of grain exports arriving at the terminals daily.

"Alberta's government encourages both parties to work towards an agreement to avoid any further disruptions to grain movement at this critical time of the year," the statement reads.

"Going forward, we are calling on the federal government to respond more effectively to labour disputes that create widespread damage to critical supply chains, as well as our country's economy and reputation as a reliable trading partner."

WATCH | Workers at 6 Vancouver grain terminals are on strike at the height of harvest: 

Vancouver grain terminal workers go on strike

2 months ago

Duration 2:02

Workers at six Vancouver grain terminals walked off the job on Tuesday, significantly disrupting exports of canola and other crops at the peak of harvest season. The strike could end up costing tens of millions of dollars a day.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon posted on the social media platform X Tuesday, writing that he had spoken to both the union and the VTEA on Monday.

"At my request, parties have agreed to resume negotiations alongside federal mediators. After a bumper crop summer, Canadian farmers and businesses need to get their harvest to market. Parties need to work hard to get a deal," MacKinnon wrote.

Grain farmers concerned about harvest

For Alberta's grain farmers in the midst of harvest, there's hope for a swift resolution, said Larry Woolliams, who farms just west of Airdrie.

"We're about 30 per cent complete harvest right now with this strike … it's going to be really bad for all of us that are still harvesting," Woolliams said.

Mike Graham, president of South Slope Feeders, located south of Brooks, Alta., said a port shutdown would have a big impact.

"If we're not able to market our produce, it's a little tough to pay everyone else. So it just has ramifications right down the chain," he said.

Stephen Vandervalk farms near Fort Macleod, Alta., and is the vice-president of the Wheat Growers Association.

He said this development is the latest in a long line of frustrating challenges for Canadian farmers, including last month's rail stoppages as well as Chinese canola tariffs​​​​​​​.

"We get one paycheque a year, and they're ruining it, right?" he said. 

Grain Workers Union Local 333 president Douglas Lea-Smith previously told CBC News that the union recognizes the economic impact of the strike, but added the employer has not yet addressed a number of issues, including around paid lieu days.

"It's the leverage provided to us to get the employer to come the table to bargain seriously. They are the ones hurting the farmers, not us," Lea-Smith said.

Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association, told CBC News bargaining has been difficult.

"The VTEA has been trying to get a deal done as soon as possible, because we're trying to get it resolved before we got into this year's harvest," Sobkowich said.

Jerry Gidel, an analyst with Midland Research, told Reuters that while much of Canada's agricultural exports move through Vancouver to Asia, the strike likely would not have a big market impact unless it continued for three to four weeks.

The union and the company are scheduled to meet again on Wednesday.