Port of Montreal Workers Reject Deal – Strike Could Happen Anytime

99.71% of the union dock workers at the Port of Montreal rejected an offer from management. A strike could happen anytime, with 72-hours of notice.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in Quebec which represents the dockworkers have been negotiating a contract with the Maritime Employers Association for the 1,125 longshore workers at the Port of Montreal, since their past agreement expired in 2018. Last summer the workers had a 19-day work stoppage that caused major disruptions and delays. The strike ended with a seven-month truce to negotiate a new deal, but that truce ended on Sunday, Mar 21, 2021.

CUPE says the workers want to return to the negotiating table, with work schedules being one of the major issues that need to be resolved. 

With this latest update, it looks like a strike is imminent, unless a deal can be reached in the near future. Without an agreement, a strike can happen with 72 hours of notice from the workers. 

We will continue to keep everyone updated. In the meantime, please expect further delays as CN and CP Rail are decreasing services to the Port of Montreal in response to a lack of an agreement.

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Source:
Workers at Canada’s second-largest port reject deal, raising strike fears, CTV News, Mar 21, 2021, Accessed Mar 21, 2021.