Port of Montreal dockworkers threaten 3-day strike beginning Monday, union says

The union representing longshore workers at the Port of Montreal says work at two terminals could come to a standstill next week as the union served a 72-hour strike notice on Friday morning.

That could potentially lead to dockworkers walking off the job as of 7 a.m. Monday and lasting until Thursday.

The union says in a statement that only two terminals would be affected by the work stoppage owned by Termont Montreal.

At the Port of Montreal, negotiations continue with the Maritime Employers Association to renew the longshore workers’ collective agreement, which expired in Dec. 31.

“Longshoremen Union has sent a 72-hour advice to the employer to stop the working on the Termont Company. Termont Company is an operator in the Port of Montreal,” said Michel Murray, union consultant and spokesperson for Syndicat des débardeurs du port Montréal, affiliated with CUPE local 375 (with the Canadian Union of Public Employees).

“He is the one who would not respect the contract that we have from now on. We sent a message to them to stop, to not apply the contract that we have. And if so, if the speaker from the employer who gave us some engagement on the last contract and who testified for the hour of work in the Port of Montreal agreed to put on a paper that his testimony and his engagement, it’s going to be respected. The Longshoremen union are ready to stop the 72-hour advice for the beginning of the strike on Monday. If not, 35 per cent of the containers are going to be probably touched for three days, and all the operation is going to restart on Thursday at 7 a.m.”

Earlier this week, the 1,150 longshoremen at the Port of Montreal rejected the latest offer from the Maritime Employers Association by 99.63 per cent while also giving themselves a strike mandate.

This would be the third strike at the Port of Montreal since 2020.

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said in a post on the social media that he’s following this situation closely, and that, “the Port of Montreal is critical to our supply chains.”

‘Very concerned’

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says they are very concerned about the impact a potential new strike at the Port of Montreal would have on small businesses.

“There have been too many strikes affecting our supply chains in recent years, causing delivery delays, production slowdowns and impacting small businesses’ bottom line. It’s simply irresponsible for the unions to take strike action yet again,” explained Jasmin Guenette, Vice President National Affairs, CFIB, in a press release.

“Unfortunately, the federal government doesn’t seem particularly concerned with this new strike threat and its impact. Small businesses are very worried as they remember all too well the impact of the 2020 and 2021 strikes at the Port of Montreal and the 2023 strike at B.C. ports.”

CFIB adds that Canada cannot afford another strike at any port across the country.

“The federal government should make ports an essential service, so they remain operational at all times. Small businesses and their employees should not be subjected to the uncertainty of strikes and lockouts in the nation’s supply chain infrastructure.”

Quebec’s chamber of commerce, Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), said in a statement that they are asking the longshore workers’ union to suspend, as soon as possible, its threat to strike – “and return to the negotiation table in order to reach a viable and equitable agreement.”

They are also worried about Canada’s reputation on the international stage, especially following the labour disputes involving other port workers like in Vancouver last year and this summer, as well as the recent rail strike that shut Canada’s two major railways.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.