A nearly two-week-old Vancouver port-workers strike was resolved today with a contract agreement between the labour union and the port authority following a government mediator's intervention.
Union members were returning to work this afternoon, and product loadings are expected to resume by Friday morning.
The labour agreement was reached with the help of Canada's Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Loading of commodities, including sulphur and potash have been on hold since 1 July, when the International Longshore and Warehouse Union went on strike following failed negotiations to settle the terms of a collective agreement for port workers' employment contracts.
Sulphur tonnage has been building up at forming facilities in Alberta, and some additional pouring to block was expected to be taking place while exports were on hold.
Potash loadings also have been affected, with supplier Canpotex rerouting some of its export volumes to other ports during the strike.
Market impact is now overall expected to be limited as the logistics resume and product loadings recommence.
