STRIKE NOTICE: SGS Minerals Workers in ILWU Local 505, Prince Rupert

The Lab and Prep Techs at SGS Minerals in Prince Rupert have voted 100% in favour of a strike, shortly after a unanimous rejection of the Employer’s final offer, and have issued strike notice effective Friday, August 14, 2026. This group of workers sits at an important part of the supply chain, preparing and testing products moved by Local 505 and Local 333 members.  We stand in solidarity with them. Please see below for words from Local 505 President, Keith Cociani.

August 12, 2026

The workers at SGS Minerals Prince Rupert were certified as an ILWU Local 505 bargaining unit in November of 2024. The work of testing coal and wood pellet samples is crucial to determining cargo quality and value and is an integral part of bulk shipping in the Port of Prince Rupert.

The ILWU bargaining team has been working hard to negotiate a first collective agreement for over a year and a half. A first contract can be a complex process. The BC Labour Relations Board was brought in for mediation, every effort has been made by the Union to achieve a contract, but the employer has become intransigent over wages. The bosses even tried a final last offer end run around Local 505 with a direct referendum. The workers are a strong galvanized group and voted unanimously to reject the employer’s insulting offer. The bully tactics angered our workers so much that they unanimously voted for strike action days later.

Another attempt post referendum and strike vote to break impasse was attempted on August 11th but the employer refused to respond to the Union’s offer. ILWU Local 505 issued strike notice effective 11:33, Friday, August 14th. Our workers deserve a fair contract and a decent living wage. SGS is a transnational multi-billion dollar corporation: they can afford to pay it!

Keith Cociani

President-ILWU Local 505