Following a six-day work stoppage earlier this month, dockworkers and maritime employers at the Port of Montreal are to resume negotiations that have long been deadlocked for a new collective agreement. Under the “consensual” agreement announced today, the two sides set a period of 90 days for the negotiating process, followed by binding arbitration.
Veteran federal negotiator Gilles Chartrand will be supervising the talks. And both partis have agreed not to make public statements related to the mediation progress during the 90-day period, indicated a press release from the CUPE Local 375 union.
The Maritime Employers Association and the union representing nearly 1,200 longshore workers have been attempting to replace the existing collective agreement which expired on December 31, 2023. Work scheduling, automation and work-life balance remain outstanding issues.
Today’s development follows the Nov. 14 order by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to restart port operations and the launch of arbitration to reach a new contract. A lockout ended on November 16.
Minister of Labour Steve MacKinnon intervened in the Montréal, West Coast and Québec City port disputes by asking the CIRB for binding arbitration to break the impasse that is depriving thousands of businesses and consumers of port services and undermining the Canadian economy.
The terms of existing collective agreements are extended until new agreements are concluded.
(Port of Montreal photo)
