A week after the announcement of the August 20 truce agreement between the longshore workers’ union CUPE Local 375 and the Maritime Employers Association (MEA), the Montreal Port Authority  said it is very pleased to see activities resume on its docks. Within three to four weeks, we expect the backlog from the work stoppage to be cleared.

While the MEA and CUPE Local 375 will make the most of this truce to reach an agreement, please note that the MEA and the Port of Montreal Checkers’ Union, for their part, successfully achieved an agreement in principle, which was ratified on August 24 by union members.

This week, seven container ships called at our terminals. Thousands of trucks and about 10 trains picked up the slack to move goods to importers in Quebec, Ontario and the U.S. Midwest.

The MPA applauded the work of all the working men and women who contributed to this collective success! “We know how important port activities are for local businesses, for the supply chain and for everyone whose exports, supplies, deliveries and manufactured products come through our docks.”

The MPA also announced two milestones related to the Port of Montreal’s presence in the Montérégie region: an agreement to conserve the region’s ecosystem and a key stage to complete its major expansion project in Contrecœur.

On Thursday, August 27, a far-reaching partnership was announced with the UPA Federation as part of the ALUS Montérégie environmental program.

Secondly, in early August the MPA launched a public procurement process in preparation for the design and construction of the Contrecœur Terminal. Through this Request for Qualification, the MPA will preselect up to three companies on the basis of technical and financial criteria. These companies will then be invited to bid in response to the call for proposals in preparation for construction, which, subject to obtaining the required approvals and permits, will commence in 2021. (photo MPA)