FARMERS ARE LOCKED UP AND GRAIN WORKERS LOCKED OUT

November 7, 2002

OTTAWA – Today, Jay Hill, Member of Parliament for Prince George - Peace River, expressed concern over the expansion of the current labour dispute with grain handlers in the Port of Vancouver to the Port of Prince Rupert. 

“The lockout of the grain handlers at the Port of Vancouver has lasted over two months. The last time negotiations were held, both sides walked away from the table after only eight hours.  Yesterday’s court decision allowing workers to picket the Prince Rupert grain terminal leaves producers without shipping facilities on the west coast,” said Hill. 

Hill demanded action from the government over a week ago stating in Question Period on October 29th, “Farmers cannot deliver their grain to their local elevator because it’s full due to the lockout at the Port of Vancouver. … Will the Minister of Labour intercede today on behalf of farmers and impose Final Offer Selection Arbitration to end this lockout?” 

“Surely the federal Minister of Labour must realize by now that her intervention in this dispute is essential to get the grain moving again.  Final Offer Selection Arbitration is a method of dispute resolution available to the Minister that would resume grain shipments immediately.”  

“This government has allowed farmers to be locked up for selling their own wheat while grain handlers are locked out, preventing farmers access to the Asian market.  The Labour Minister must act today,” concluded Hill.