31 December 1999

BC Rail Lockout Expands

BC Rail Ltd. unions escalated their strike action on 30 December by closing the Roberts Bank coal port south of Vancouver. Mediated talks broke down on 28 December over the company's demands for concessions to increase productivity. No new negotiations are scheduled.

Picketing at Roberts Bank by the rail unions and longshoremen has not yet affected the adjacent Delta container port, which is served by the same BC Rail line.