Take Action

Robots don't

Port Workers Do

A new company PSA Halifax (a subsidiary of Port of Singapore Authority) has acquired the two container terminals in Halifax - one in Fairview Cove and the other in the south end. PSA International is the largest terminal operator in the world and has plans to quadruple the number of containers handled in Halifax. Volume is forecasted to increase from today's 600,000 TEU's (Twenty-foot equivalent units) to 2 million TEU's per year within a decade.

The Halifax Longshoremen's Association currently has approximately 700 direct employees (longshoremen, checkers, gearmen) working at the port and there are thousands of trucking and support workers.

The Port of Halifax has had a very positive labour relations record resulting in decades of labour peace and among the lowest container handling costs on the entire North American Atlantic coast.

Recently, PSA informed ILA Leadership of their plans to introduce automation at the Port of Halifax, substantially replacing the role of labour. The Union offered to hire and train all the workers required to increase port volumes. PSA effectively said, "no thanks, we want to automate".

The future of an important workplace that supports thousands of HRM's working families is in jeopardy. The Port of Halifax itself is at risk of becoming fully automated - meaning it will be run by machines and closed off to the public, basically becoming lifeless. Port workers want to ensure that HRM's residents, elected representatives and the broader Port community understand the change that PSA is proposing and how it will negatively affect HRM.

The simple truth is that automation will result in humans being replaced by machines. For Halifax, that means thousands of family-supporting jobs being lost. It will also result in all the revenue generated by Halifax hosting the container terminals going elsewhere as these robots won't be made here, won't eat here, won't pay taxes here and certainly won't raise families here. Halifax will be poorer but PSA, a foreign owned company, will get richer. It means Halifax will be expected to have four times as much container volume moving through the city and along the waterfront 24 hours a day without any benefit to its citizens.

Robots Don't. Port Workers Do is our effort to inform our neighbours, fellow residents and politicians of the planned change that would forever alter the Port of Halifax and take away the current benefits we as a community receive from hosting it. Please join us in telling PSA that automation at the Halifax Port is NOT acceptable to our community.

Why should you care?

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PSA Halifax's automation plans will substantially replace the role of labour at the Port of Halifax. This move to automation will impact the families of 700 direct employees (longshoremen, checkers, gearmen) and thousands of trucking and support workers.
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Automation means humans will not be involved in the movement of containers at the Port. Machines (remote controlled) will control the offloading, moving and loading of containers 24/7.
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Automation also means no public use or interaction at the Port - runners, families, activities enjoyed by locals and tourists in the south end of Halifax will be completely restricted.
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The simple truth is that automation will result in humans being replaced by machines. For Halifax, that means hundreds or thousands of family-supporting jobs being lost.
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Automation will result in all the revenue generated by Halifax hosting the container terminal going elsewhere as these robots won't be made here, won't eat here, won't pay taxes here and certainly won't raise families here. Halifax will be poorer but PSA, a foreign owned company, will get richer.
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Automation means Halifax will be expected to have four times as much container volume moving through the city and along the waterfront 24 hours a day without any benefit to citizens of Halifax.

Take Action

If you care about port workers and the impact of automation on the Port of Halifax, please join us by making your voice heard. We are asking citizens to help bring this to the attention of politicians and the Halifax Port Authority so they will join the Longshoremen's Association in pushing back on this plan. The ILA are more than happy to keep hiring and ensure labour is available to meet the needs of PSA's growth plans in Halifax.

Make your voice heard

Here are a few ways that you can make your voice heard. The Premier, local MP's and Councillors, and the Halifax Port Authority need to understand your worries and concerns about PSA's automation plans for the Port of Halifax. Please do one or more of the following:

Write/Call Federal, Provincial and Municipal Officials

Premier Tim Houston
premier@novascotia.ca
902-424-6600

Darren Fisher, MP Dartmouth-Cole Harbour
darren.fisher@parl.gc.ca
902-462-6453

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage
mayor@halifax.ca
902-490-4010

Cathie O'Toole, HRM CAO
Cathie.otoole@halifax.ca
902-490-4000

Councilor Waye Mason: Mayor Candidate
waye.mason@halifax.ca
902-490-8462

Andy Fillmore: Mayor Candidate
andy@andyfillmore.ca
902-266-8720

Councilor Pam Lovelace: Mayor Candidate
pam.lovelace@halifax.ca
902-225-4624

Example email letter for Federal, Provincial and Municipal Officials - Copy and Paste and edit as needed:

Dear ___________________

I am writing to let you know that I am very concerned about PSA Halifax's automation plans for the Port of Halifax. This move to automation will impact the families of 700 direct employees (longshoremen, checkers, gearmen) and thousands of trucking and support workers and any future hiring at the Port of Halifax.

I do not want the Halifax Port to be run by machines without workers involved in the movement, loading and offloading of containers. I do not want a Port in downtown Halifax that does not benefit the city or the province. I do not support the loss of hundreds or thousands of family-supporting jobs. I do not support all the revenue generated by Halifax hosting the container terminal going elsewhere.

Robots won't be made here, won't eat here, won't pay taxes here and certainly won't raise families here.

As my local representatives I ask that you step in and stop these plans, that will impact locals, tourists, and working families negatively. It is not ok to expect citizens in Halifax to have to have four times as much container volume moving through the city and along the waterfront 24 hours a day with all the benefits going elsewhere.

Thank you,

Write the Halifax Port Authority and PSA

David Cameron, Chair of the Board, Port of Halifax
dcameron@bwbllp.ca

Enno Koll, Head of Operations PSA International
enno.koll@globalpsa.com

Example email letter for Halifax Port Authority and/or PSA International - Copy and Paste and edit as needed:

Dear ___________________

I am writing to let you know that I am very concerned about PSA Halifax's automation plans for the Port of Halifax. This move to automation will impact the families of 700 direct employees (longshoremen, checkers, gearmen) and thousands of trucking and support workers and any future hiring at the Port of Halifax.

I do not want the Halifax Port to be run by machines without workers involved in the movement, loading and offloading of containers. I do not want a Port in downtown Halifax that does not benefit the citizens of Halifax. I do not support the loss of hundreds or thousands of family-supporting jobs. I do not support all the revenue generated by Halifax hosting the container terminal going elsewhere.

Robots won't be made here, won't eat here, won't pay taxes here and certainly won't raise families here.

As the manager of the Port, I ask that your step in and stop these plans, that will impact locals, tourists, and working families negatively. It is not ok to expect citizens in Halifax to have to have four times as much container volume moving through the city and along the waterfront 24 hours a day with all the benefits going elsewhere.

Thank you,

Post your views on Facebook, X/Twitter and LinkedIn.

Post a message expressing your opposition to PSA's automation plans for the Port of Halifax.

Write a letter to the editor in your local paper

Saltwire
letters@herald.ca
https://www.saltwire.com/submit-letter/

All Nova Scotia
news@allnovascotia.com

Call into a radio call-in show.

News 95.7
902-405-6000