Montreal port workers plan indefinite strike if deal not reached by Thursday morning

Workers at two container terminals at the Port of Montreal signaled intent to walk off the job Thursday morning—this time indefinitely—according to a notice from the port’s authority yesterday.

Both terminals are operated by Termont. Viterra’s grain terminal will continue operation, the Port of Montreal said.

The strike is the latest in a string of limited work stoppages at the port as negotiations between the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) and CUPE Longshoremen’s Union, Local 375. Most recently, workers spent 24 hours off the job between Oct. 27 and 28.

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Wages and work-life balance have been among key issues cited by the union.

In a statement on Oct. 28, the union said Termont is targeted because it’s the only company at the port 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. “Let’s resolve the issues around work schedules, and then I am confident we can resolve the rest.”

The Maritime Employers Association yesterday said it was asking federal Labour Minister Steven Mackinnon to appoint a special mediator to “break the deadlock.”

According to the union, the strike would affect 40 per cent of container traffic, and 15 per cent of the total volume handled at the port.