Two terminals at the Port of Montreal were paralyzed Monday as 320 longshoremen began a 72-hour strike. The 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, saying 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 union, which is a local of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, affiliated with the FTQ, had indicated that it was specifically targeting the two terminals operated by the Termont company.
They said they were willing to back off the strike under certain conditions, but by Sunday evening, the Association des employeurs maritimes issued a statement confirming that no agreement had been reached over the weekend.
“The AEM 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, but in vain,” the union said in a statement.
“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.” the AEM said it was “very disappointed with this outcome.”
The collective agreement for longshoremen at the Port of Montreal expired Dec. 31.
Last week, the port’s 1,150 longshoremen rejected the latest employer offer by 99.63 per cent and voted for a strike mandate.
A number of shipping companies began rerouting their goods to the Port of Montreal as early as May over concerns about a potential labour dispute.
Meanwhile, in the United States, a major strike threat looms over several ports on the East Coast. A walkout there could take place on Tuesday.