Port of Montreal dockworkers begin three-day strike Monday morning

Two terminals at the Port of Montreal will be paralyzed starting at 7 a.m. Monday morning, as 320 longshoremen begin a 72-hour strike. This pressure tactic could have many impacts, since these two terminals represent 41 per cent of the containers transiting the Port of Montreal.

Last Friday, the Syndicat des débardeurs du port de Montréal filed a 72-hour strike notice, stating that its members who work at the Viau and Maisonneuve terminals intended to walk out from 7 a.m. Monday to 6:59 a.m. Thursday.

“The main worry is that clearly, the logistical chain is becoming vulnerable again,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.

“If you are an exporter, you’re not sure whether your goods will be exported in time,” he added. “If you are using goods coming from across in your processes, well, there’ll be shortages. If you are a retail store, well, there may be shortages, which will lead to inflation, which will affect everyone.”

“Ports and the Port of Montreal is an essential economic service.”

“No one expects that in 72 hours, it will be solved,” said Leblanc. “It was not solved over the last four years.”

The union, which is affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, had indicated that it was specifically targeting the two terminals operated by the Termont company.

#WATCH: 320 Montreal dockworkers begin 72-hour strike — walking off the job until Thursday morning after mediation with the employer was unsuccessful over the weekend.

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The union had said they were prepared not to exercise this strike under certain conditions, but Sunday evening, the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) issued a statement confirming that no agreement had been reached over the weekend.

“The MEA tried by all available means to avoid the strike planned (Monday) at the Viau and Maisonneuve terminals of the Termont company at the Port of Montreal,” read a press release.

“Whether through mediation, supported by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, or before the Canada Industrial Relations Board in an emergency hearing (Sunday) afternoon, our efforts were unsuccessful,” added the MEA, which said it was “very disappointed with this outcome.”

“It will start affecting people,” said Leblanc. “It won’t be today, it won’t be tomorrow but as the port stops working, 40 per cent for now, what will it be in three days? We do not know.”

The collective agreement for longshoremen at the Port of Montreal expired on Dec. 31.

Last week, the port’s 1,150 longshoremen rejected the latest employer offer by 99.63 per cent, while giving themselves a strike mandate.

“A 72-hour strike, 40 per cent of the capacity,” said Leblanc. “Is worrisome.”

A number of shipping companies began rerouting their goods to the Port of Montreal as early as May due to concerns about a potential labour dispute.

Meanwhile, in the United States, a major strike threat looms at several ports on the East Coast. The walkout could take place on Tuesday.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews