Canada: Strike at the Port of Montreal, the Second-Busiest in the Country
Dockworkers at the Port of Montreal, Canada’s second-largest port, commenced an indefinite partial strike on Thursday across two terminals, halting 40% of the container traffic that flows through the facility.
This marks the third strike initiated by the 320 workers who have been unable to reach an agreement with their employer regarding a new collective bargaining contract, as the previous one expired on December 31, 2023.
Following a three-day strike two weeks ago, which already caused “a backlog of containers on the ground,” several container ships have been redirected to other ports during this critical period leading up to the holiday season, according to the Montreal Port Authority (MPA).
In total, two out of four terminals are affected by this strike.
“This work stoppage will undoubtedly have severe repercussions for thousands of local businesses, as well as for the overall economy of Quebec and Canada,” stated Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the Port of Montreal, emphasizing “the urgency of reaching an agreement.”
The dispute centers on wages and work schedules that adversely affect the quality of life for dockworkers.
Michel Murray, a representative of the Dockworkers’ Union, indicated that the facilities operated by Termont were targeted because the company had altered workers’ schedules “in a punitive manner,” negatively impacting their “work-life balance.”
“We are waiting to be called to negotiate and we have solutions, but it is essential that the other party is also willing to come to the table with solutions,” the spokesperson added.
In light of the impasse, the Marine Employers Association (MEA) has requested the intervention of the federal Minister of Labour to “bring both parties back to the negotiation table to resolve this conflict.”
