Workers at Canada’s first propane export terminal launched a strike Thursday, marking the latest labor disruption to hit the country’s port infrastructure and threatening energy exports to Asia.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 523B began strike action at the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal on November 27, following unsuccessful contract negotiations with AltaGas Ltd. (TSX: ALA), which operates the facility.
AltaGas said in a November 25 release that it activated a contingency plan and deployed an alternate workforce to maintain operations at the terminal, which serves more than 70 export customers.
The terminal sits approximately 10 kilometers south of Prince Rupert, and acts as the closest North American liquefied petroleum gas facility to Asia. The facility can export up to 92,000 barrels per day of propane and exported a record 133,147 barrels per day in the third quarter of 2025.
The strike comes as labor tensions continue to roil Canadian ports. In September, workers at Montreal’s Montréal Gateway Terminals walked off the job after voting 96% in favor of strike action. In November 2024, employers locked out more than 700 foremen at Vancouver and Prince Rupert ports, affecting an estimated $800 million in daily trade before the federal government intervened with binding arbitration.
Industry observers say the recurring labor disruptions damage Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner. The pattern of strikes and government interventions prompts calls for designating ports as essential services, though unions argue federal intervention tramples collective bargaining rights.
Experts estimate that each day of port closure requires approximately one week of recovery time to process delayed shipments.
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