Montreal Dockworkers Approve Strike Mandate Amid Contract Negotiations

26 Sep Montreal Dockworkers Approve Strike Mandate Amid Contract Negotiations

Dockworkers at the Port of Montreal have overwhelmingly approved a strike mandate after over a year of unresolved contract negotiations with the Maritime Employers Association (MEA).

In the vote, longshore workers rejected the MEA’s offer by 99.6%, with 97.9% of workers in favor of giving their union executive the authority to call a strike if necessary. Before taking strike action, the union, which represents nearly 1,200 workers and is affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), would need to provide a 72-hour notice.

Concerns over potential job action have already prompted some transport companies to reroute cargo away from the port as early as May, underscoring the impact of a possible strike at Canada’s second-largest port.

Montreal dockworkers previously went on strike in August 2020, leading to a 12-day disruption that left 11,500 containers stuck at the port.

Currently, both parties remain in mediation, and the MEA has expressed hope that an agreement can be reached in the coming days to avoid further disruption.