Picket lines went up at six grain terminal locations in Metro Vancouver on Tuesday morning.
About 600 workers have gone on strike and Grain Workers Union Local 333 president Douglas Lea-Smith said the Vancouver Terminal Elevators Association needs to come back to the bargaining table to negotiate a deal.
The union said it provided the employer with a “comprehensive package” last week and it had no counter-offer.
Meanwhile, Steven MacKinnon, Canada’s labour minister, said he spoke to both the employer and the union and they have agreed to resume contract negotiations with federal mediators’ help.
“This will have a massive impact on the Canadian economy,” Lea-Smith said.
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“It will slow everything. They’re claiming $35 million a day. We are not looking for $35 million a day and we are very cognizant of how this impacts the farmers and we want to get a contract and it’s the employers who are …