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International Dockworker Coalition Launches Campaign Against Port Automation

About 100 union delegates from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand gathered at DP World's Centerm terminal in Vancouver to protest what they characterize as job-threatening automation at ports. The demonstration followed an International Dockworkers Anti-Automation Summit held in late September. Participating unions adopted a position accepting safety-focused technology while opposing its use to eliminate positions, outsource work or weaken union protections. Tom Doran, president of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, said the coalition represents a unified response to employer-led automation. DP World operates the Centerm terminal in Vancouver, backs a container project at the Port of Montreal, and has expansion plans in Saint John. The British Columbia longshore agreement expires in March 2027, with automation expected to dominate contract negotiations. The global coalition demands technology implementations be negotiated before deployment.