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When B.C. truckers went on strike in March 2014, it cost the local economy millions of dollars. As a result of the prolonged strike, reforms were made and a new port trucking commissioner was appointed.
But now, truckers are saying the commissioner, Andy Smith, has refused to enforce the new provincially-imposed minimum rates companies must pay.
"Drivers went back to work on the promise that they would be paid higher rates from April 3rd of last year," says Unifor B.C. area director Gavin McGarrigle. "The province eventually put that into law and now we’ve written to the commissioner to ask him to enforce the law and he doesn’t seem interested in it. So we’re left with no choice but to go
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to court to try to get the money that’s owed to the container truck drivers."
This week Unifor, the union representing container truck drivers, filed an application in court asking that truckers get what they are owed and also that Smith step aside as commissioner.
Along with being port trucking commissioner, Smith is also the president of the B.C. Maritime Employers Association, which represents employers at the port. Unifor says Smith’s role with the employers association is a conflict of interest.
For more of the Global News story: globalnews.ca
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