Workers at a company responsible for analyzing materials intended for export from various industries at the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia have served a strike notice effective Friday, as confirmed by their union. The International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 505 announced in a statement on Thursday that lab and preparation technicians at SGS Minerals unanimously voted in favor of a strike and have officially issued the notice starting on August 14.
SGS Minerals, the minerals division of the global testing, inspection, and certification company SGS, employs four workers in Prince Rupert who conduct sample testing of products like coal and wood pellets to assist in determining cargo specifications and commercial value before shipping. Keith Cociani, the president of ILWU Local 505, expressed concerns that a strike could result in the need to send samples to other SGS facilities in different locations in British Columbia, potentially leading to increased expenses and shipment delays.
Cociani highlighted the significance of the lab’s operations in Prince Rupert, emphasizing that shutting it down would require samples to be processed in Vancouver or Delta, causing disruptions, elevated costs, and potential shipping issues. The workers, who were certified as an ILWU Local 505 bargaining unit in November 2024, have been engaged in negotiations for their initial collective agreement.
According to Cociani, the impasse primarily revolves around wage matters, with the employer attempting to bypass the union by directly offering a final proposal to the workers, which was unanimously rejected. Despite the involvement of the B.C. Labour Relations Board for mediation, the company failed to respond to a counter-offer presented by the union. The union is urging the company to resume negotiations and provide a counter-offer rather than pressuring workers to lower their demands.
Cociani expressed confidence in the unity and determination of the SGS Minerals workforce, stating that the company underestimates their resolve. CBC News has reached out to SGS Minerals for their response.