Tentative deal reached in the Vancouver grain workers strike

A tentative agreement has been reached in the strike by grain terminal workers in Metro Vancouver, according to a social media post by federal Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon.

“Grain Workers Union Local 333 and the Vancouver Terminal Elevators’ Association have reached a tentative agreement to get Canada’s harvest to market,” said MacKinnon on Friday evening.

“Thanks to the parties for putting in the work necessary to get a deal done, and to federal mediators for their support.”

According to a statement from the union, workers could be back on the job as soon as 7 a.m. Saturday.

A ratification vote is scheduled for Oct. 4.

News of the deal came hours after reports talks between the two sides had stalled, with the employers’ association saying was “disappointed” with the results of two days of bargaining.

A statement from the Western Grain Elevator Association said the employer bargaining unit had increased its offer to settle “outstanding issues,” but that it had been rejected.

Picket lines went up at six grain terminals in Metro Vancouver Tuesday after the negotiators for about 600 employees with the Grain Workers Union Local 333 said the employers’ group had not “meaningfully engaged” in a dozen days of bargaining

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Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report