Port of Montreal strike looms as MEA asks for special mediator

With the two sides unable to reach a new agreement, the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) has asked Canada’s Minister of Labour and Seniors to appoint a special mediator so an agreement can be reached by Dec. 3.

This comes as CUPE 375, the union representing Port of Montreal longshore workers, issued a strike notice Oct. 28 for workers at the Termont corporation terminals. The union has targeted Termont because it says it is the only company at the Port of Montreal to modify schedules in a punitive way.

“Termont is provoking longshore workers and their local by using schedules that have negative impacts on work-life balance,” said Michel Murray, CUPE representative. “If we reach a permanent agreement on this issue, we could avoid a strike set to begin on Oct. 31. Let’s resolve the issues around work schedules, and then I am confident we can resolve the rest.”

The strike would affect 15 per cent of the total volume handled at the Port of Montreal, which is 40 per cent of container traffic.

Port workers also carried out a 24-hour strike Oct. 27. During the strike, union members took part in a general meeting, where they showed their support to the strike notice and voted in favour of a special contribution to provide financial support to the 320 workers affected by the partial strike.

“Longshore workers are ready to sit at the bargaining table. We are waiting to be invited and we have solutions in mind, but the other party must also be in solution mode,” said Murray.

The MEA said discussions over the past few hours have failed to bring the union back to the table in a constructive manner, and that the Longshoremen’s Union is therefore preparing to launch an unlimited general strike at the Viau and Maisonneuve terminals operated by Termont, starting at 11 a.m. Oct. 31. The MEA said the tactic will quickly lead to major operational upheavals, jeopardizing the operations of several companies, as well as the financial health of the MEA, which is already coping with declining volumes.

“It is clear that the parties are currently at an impasse. The MEA is appealing for the government to appoint a special mediator to break the deadlock in negotiations as soon as possible,” the MEA said in a release. “An official request was sent to the minister’s office at the end of the day.”

The MEA said it will not comment further on the content of the negotiations.

The Retail Council of Canada also released a statement on the situation, saying it is on the ground in Montreal, working with partners and urging government intervention to prevent further disruptions. It advised its members to share how this strike affects their business to inform RCC’s advocacy.