Workers employed at a firm conducting quality assessments on materials intended for export from various industries, such as mining and forestry, at the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia have issued a strike notice, as announced by their union. The International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 505 revealed that lab and preparation technicians at SGS Minerals unanimously voted in favor of a strike, with the strike notice set to take effect on August 14.

SGS Minerals, a division of the global testing, inspection, and certification company SGS, employs four workers in Prince Rupert who are responsible for testing samples like coal and wood pellets to assist in determining the cargo’s quality and commercial worth before shipment. Keith Cociani, the president of ILWU Local 505, mentioned that a potential strike could result in the samples being redirected to SGS facilities in other locations in British Columbia, possibly leading to increased expenses and shipment delays.

Cociani emphasized the importance of the Prince Rupert lab in streamlining operations and warned about the repercussions of relocating the testing process to Vancouver or Delta facilities. The union, which officially became an ILWU Local 505 bargaining unit in November 2024, has been engaged in negotiations to establish their initial collective agreement with the company.

Cociani criticized the company’s stance on wage issues, highlighting their attempts to present a final offer directly to the workers, which was unanimously rejected. Despite mediation by the B.C. Labour Relations Board, the company failed to respond to the union’s counter-offer, prompting the union to urge the company to resume negotiations and present a feasible counter-offer instead of pressuring workers to compromise on their demands.

Cociani expressed confidence in the unity and determination of the SGS Minerals workforce and emphasized the need for the company to engage constructively in the negotiation process rather than adopting a rigid stance. CBC News has reached out to SGS Minerals for their perspective on the situation.