Montreal Dockworkers Union to Hold Strike Vote Amid Ongoing Mediation Talks

24 Sep Montreal Dockworkers Union to Hold Strike Vote Amid Ongoing Mediation Talks

The union representing dockworkers at the Port of Montreal, Local 375 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), is set to hold a strike vote this week. This vote comes just before a scheduled mediation session aimed at resolving the year-long conflict between maritime employers and Montreal longshoremen.

The Maritime Employers Association (MEA) confirmed that the vote will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the mediation session, overseen by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, is set for Thursday. Though the strike vote looms over negotiations, the CUPE must provide a three-day notice before initiating a walkout, meaning no immediate strike action will occur.

The union strike vote will occur on the 24th and 25th of September. If approved, the strike authorization will remain valid for 60 days, but the MEA reminded parties that no pressure tactics, including a strike, can occur without proper notice to the Minister of Labor.

The labor dispute stems from a breakdown in negotiations that started last year after the expiration of the previous collective bargaining agreement, which covers 1,120 longshore workers. Local 375 has been pushing for a 20% wage increase over a four-year contract, as well as protections for wage guarantees.

Earlier this year, the MEA’s attempt to have longshore work classified as an “essential service” was denied. A similar standoff in 2020 led to major disruptions, creating an 11,000-container backlog at the port that took weeks to resolve.

This potential strike adds to labor tensions across Canada’s maritime sector. On the West Coast, longshore foremen are still in a deadlock with employers in British Columbia, while dockworkers in the US East and Gulf coasts are also on the verge of striking for the first time in nearly 50 years.