VANCOUVER - A labour dispute involving non-unionized truckers at Port Metro Vancouver could affect operations sooner rather than later, a senior port official warned Wednesday.

Between 1,200 and 1,300 non-unionized container truckers are refusing to work at Port Metro Vancouver to protest long waiting times and low rates. Their unionized counterparts plan a strike vote unless a mediator can be brought in to resolve the issues.

“This will have a very serious impact on port operations in a very short period of time,” said Peter Xotta, the port’s vice-president of planning and operations, noting that trucking represents about half of all activity at PMV and that trucks handle roughly 50 per cent of all containers.

“If 50 per cent of the traffic to and from the marine terminal is by truck, it will be days rather than weeks before it will be difficult for that terminal to operate efficiently and they’ll have inventory stored there that can’t be removed from the facility. So congestion is the result, and it will (result in) folks redirecting cargo to other ports if they have that capability. That’s why this issue needs to be resolved as quickly as possible.

“We’re seeing very little truck activity at port facilities.”

The withdrawal of services at Canada’s biggest port by members of the United Truckers Association will potentially affect operations at Vanterm in Burrard Inlet, and Deltaport and Fraser Surrey Docks south of Vancouver.

In 2005, a 47-day work stoppage by port truckers over the same issues cost the economy an estimated $400 million.

Unifor, the union representing a majority of the unionized truckers at the Port Metro Vancouver, called on the port and the provincial government to bring in top labour mediator Vince Ready to sit down with both parties and find a resolution.

A strike by unionized drivers would take another 400 trucks off the road.

Xotta said he hadn’t heard about Unifor calling on Ready to be involved, but noted that the port’s reputation could suffer if the dispute isn’t soon resolved.

“It’s safe to say that in the transportation and goods movement business, reliability is a very important factor and we will always be concerned about anything that impacts reliability and our reputation. The suggestion of disruption has an impact. The reality of one exacerbates that. I would say the minute this happens it’s beginning to impact our reputation.”

Xotta offered little hope on improving waiting times for truckers.

“Our hope is folks return to work. But our understanding is that’s not going to occur and the drivers are looking for some commitment that the issue of waiting times is either resolved or they’re compensated for their waiting time. That’s not something the port can deliver.”

However, the delays are the biggest issue that drivers want resolved, said Manny Dosange, spokesman for the United Truckers Association,

“If we got rid of (lineups) and dealt with waiting times and the financial burden that puts on drivers, we could get the guys back to work,” Dosange said.