The on-and-off negotiations between the union representing 1,125 Port of Montreal longshoremen and the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) are on again, resuming Wednesday of this week in the presence of mediators.
The return to the negotiating table was announced yesterday by the CUPE 375 union to its members after mediators had held separate meetings with the MEA and the union late last week after direct 4-day talks between both sides had broken up on February 28.
The dockers have been without a new collective agreement since December 31, 2018. The biggest outstanding issues reportedly revolve around working hours and scheduling regimes.
Following a series of strikes last summer which caused ship diversions from the Port of Montreal and major supply chain delays in eastern Canada, the employers and dockers agreed to a seven-month truce which expires on March 20.
Earlier today, the Shipping Federation of Canada expressed concern (see MM report) that the threat of an imminent work stoppage is inducing North American importers and exporters to divert large volumes of cargo away from Canada’s second biggest port. (photo MPA)
