The Montreal shipping workers’ union rejects the offer; lock first with Reuters
Written by Divya Rajagopal
(Reuters) – The Montreal Longshoremen’s Union has rejected a last-ditch offer of a new labor contract, prompting the announcement of a shutdown, the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) and the union said on Sunday.
The MEA said in a statement that the shutdown, which will affect approximately 1,200 port workers at the Canadian port that handled 8.7 million metric tons in the third quarter of 2024, was announced as of 9 pm eastern (02:00 GMT).
The shutdown will also slow Canadian imports and exports at a time when the Port of Montreal is already partially operational and as Western ports are suspended due to a separate dispute.
The union representing the longshoremen at the Port of Montreal said the request was rejected by 99.7% of members because the employer refused to negotiate.
“If the MEA had respected collective bargaining processes, solutions would have been found and the conflict at the Port of Montreal could have been avoided,” said union counsel Michel Murray in a statement.
Two terminals operated by Termont, a container operator based out of the Port of Montreal, which represents about 40% of Montreal’s containers and 15% of the port’s total volume, have been closed by a union strike, which began on Oct. 31.
However, after Sunday’s announcement all ports will be closed. And only essential services not related to the long haul will continue at the Port of Montreal.
The MEA said its final proposal provides for a 3% annual salary increase for four years and a 3.5% increase in the following two years.
West Coast ports including Canada’s largest port of Vancouver have also been closed since then Monday (NASDAQ:) due to a labor dispute, affecting exports of canola oil and forest products.
