Montreal port workers begin three-day strike at two terminals, port authority says

Reuters – Unionized workers have begun a three-day strike at two terminals of the port of Montreal as talks over a new contract are yet to result in a labour agreement, the Canadian port’s authorities said on Monday.

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The partial strike will impact the Viau and Maisonneuve terminals, which account for about 40 per cent of the port’s container traffic. Operations are expected to remain shut till 6:59 a.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 3.

“Montreal Port Authority expresses its disappointment that no agreement has been reached between the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) and the Longshoremen’s Union to avoid a work stoppage,” the port said.

Each day of work stoppage puts $90.7 million in economic activity at risk, the port added.

The union did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Talks between the MEA and labor union remain in a deadlock over wages.

The president of the port authority Julie Gascon previously said she expected a strike to have a domino effect on importers, exporters and general public.

Montreal is the largest container port in eastern Canada and accounted for 3.5 per cent of Canada’s GDP in 2022, Gascon said, adding that nearly C$6 billion worth of goods were due to arrive at the port of Montreal in the coming weeks.