Port of Montreal lockout begins as dockworkers reject latest offer
By Sidhartha Banerje
The Canadian Press
November 11, 2024
WATCH - Montreal port workers lose guaranteed wages amid strike – Nov 2, 2024
November 11, 2024
WATCH - Montreal port workers lose guaranteed wages amid strike – Nov 2, 2024
Operations at the Port of Montreal were greatly reduced Monday as the employers’ association made good on a threat to lock out nearly 1,200 longshore workers if they didn’t accept what it called a final contract offer.
The lockout took effect at 9 p.m. Sunday, and the Maritime Employers Association is asking federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to intervene. MacKinnon’s office issued a statement Monday calling on both sides at the country’s second largest port to get back to the negotiating table.
“The parties must understand the urgency of the situation and do the work necessary to reach an agreement,” his office said. “Canadians are counting on them.”
The union told a news conference on Monday it is ready to return to the table as early as Tuesday. But Michel Murray, a union adviser with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the dock workers, said union overtures have received no response from the employer.
Murray told a news conference simultaneous lockouts in Montreal and Vancouver seem to be designed to force the federal government’s hand. Port workers in British Columbia are locked out amid a labour dispute involving more than 700 longshore supervisors, resulting in a paralysis of container cargo traffic at terminals across Canada’s west coast.
“We hope that the employer side will emerge from its silence of the past three weeks,” Murray said. “But clearly, when we look at what is happening, the lockout in Vancouver, the lockout in Montreal, we feel that it is a co-ordinated, planned attempt to increase the pressure on the federal government so that it intervenes in our file.”
2:11 Business Matters: Port of Montreal dockworkers hold one-day strike
Julie Gascon, chief executive of the Montreal Port Authority, warned of the economic consequences of a prolonged conflict.
“This lockout affects not only the 1,200 longshoremen directly impacted by the work stoppage, but it also impacts over 10,000 workers in the logistics sector, from trucking and railway employees to maritime agents and pilots,” she said in a statement.
“Logistics jobs are the first to be affected, which inevitably sets off a domino effect throughout the entire economy in the markets we serve.”
Gascon told reporters in an early morning news conference effects will trickle down to other parts of the economy.
“Today, the conflict is impacting the supply chain, but tomorrow, the conflict will impact factories as well, after that, it will be retailers,” she said, adding: “The best agreement is an agreement that is (reached) at the negotiating table.”
The Port of Montreal moves nearly $400 million in goods every day. The Port of Montreal said essential services will continue at the port, with liquid bulk terminals and the grain terminal among those remaining open.
The employers association in Montreal said it initiated the lockout after the unionized workers voted to reject a contract offer tabled last week. The Canadian Union of Public Employees says members voted 99.7 per cent to reject the proposal. The workers have been without a collective agreement since Dec. 31, 2023.
The union has said it would accept the same wage increases that were granted to its counterparts in Halifax or Vancouver — 20 per cent over four years. It is also concerned with scheduling and work-life balance.
Pascal Chan, senior director of transportation, infrastructure and construction at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said the combined work stoppages affect the flow of $1.2 billion worth of goods every day.
“We need to see leadership from government that puts Canadian workers and businesses first by putting an end to these disputes and getting goods flowing again as quickly as possible,” Chan said in statement
Port of Montreal lockout underway after dockworkers overwhelmingly vote to reject employer offer
Maritime Employers Association calls on federal labour minister to intervene
The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers' association, and a lockout at the facility is underway.
A spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees says members voted 99.7 per cent to reject the latest offer from the Maritime Employers Association (MEA).
The MEA issued the dockworkers' union what it called its final offer on Thursday, threatening to lock out workers at 9 p.m. Sunday if a deal wasn't reached.
Only essential services and activities unrelated to dockworkers would continue at the port after the deadline, the MEA had said.
The Port of Montreal, which is Canada's second-biggest port and moves nearly $400 million in goods every day, said three terminals would remain operational in the event of a lockout: the Bickerdike terminal, liquid bulk terminals and the grain terminal.
MEA calls on labour minister to intervene
"The Maritime Employers Association condemns the negative result of the vote held by the Montreal Longshoremen's Union on the final offer submitted Thursday and has no choice but to declare a lockout this evening at 9 p.m.," the MEA said in a statement.
"The MEA reiterates its request to the Minister of Labour, Steven MacKinnon, to intervene to resolve the impasse as quickly as possible. "
"If the MEA had respected the collective bargaining process, we would have found solutions and avoided a conflict at the Port of Montreal," said CUPE consultant Michel Murray in a news release.
He said "nothing in the offer" reflects the union's demands.
In an email, a spokesperson for the MEA noted the "unique benefits" enjoyed by its dockworkers, including a "very generous pension plan" as well as a wage guarantee program.
The Montreal lockout means workers at both of the country's largest ports will be locked out, with workers in British Columbia locked out since Monday in an ongoing contract dispute at the Port of Vancouver, the largest port in Canada.
WATCH | Dockworkers locked out at Montreal port:
Roughly 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal rejected a deal Sunday evening, triggering a lockout at Canada's second-busiest port. It added to a string of labour disruptions including a lockout at the Port of Vancouver and a looming Canada Post strike.
Employer tabled 'final' offer Thursday evening
The employer tabled on Thursday evening what it described as a "final, comprehensive offer," and called on the union to reply by 8 p.m. Sunday whether it will accept the six-year pact. The offer came with a 72-hour lockout notice.
The MEA said last week its new offer includes a three per cent salary increase each year for four years and a 3.5 per cent increase for the two subsequent years.
The increases would bring a longshore worker's total average compensation at the Port of Montreal to more than $200,000 per year at the end of the contract.
The association added that it is asking longshore workers to provide at least one hour's notice when they will be absent from a shift — instead of one minute — to help reduce management issues "which have a major effect on daily operations."
On Friday, a Syndicat des débardeurs du port de Montréal official said the new offer contained just "cosmetic changes" and doesn't address issues about scheduling, a major flashpoint in talks.
WATCH | What the ongoing B.C. port lockout means for businesses, Canadians:
Hundreds of workers rallied near the docks in East Vancouver to demand a new contract on Friday, as the port lockout entered its fifth day. Employers and union reps are set to meet with federal mediators this weekend, but, as Jon Hernandez reports, many small business owners are already concerned about impacts.
The union had said it had no issue submitting the latest offer to a vote, but added it was unlikely to be supported as members have already rejected two similar offers by secret ballot.
The union has said it will accept the same increases that were granted to its counterparts in Halifax or Vancouver — 20 per cent over four years. It is also concerned with scheduling and work-life balance.
On Friday morning, the union and employers association spent two hours with a federal mediator without making any progress.
Workers have been without a collective agreement since Dec. 31, 2023.
Montreal Dockworker Lockout Will Impact Canada in ‘Matter of Days’
Glenn Taylor
Mon, November 11, 2024
Union dockworkers at the Port of Montreal have been locked out after rejecting a “final” contract offer from the Maritime Employers Association (MEA), shutting down all four major container terminals at the hub and further straining supply chains on both of Canada’s coasts.
The lockout of all 1,197 members of the Local 375 branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) began Sunday night at 9 p.m., significantly widening the scope of an ongoing work stoppage.
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The Port of Montreal moves $400 million Canadian dollars ($287,000) worth of cargo every day, second in the country only to the Port of Vancouver, which is experiencing a foremen lockout of its own across major British Columbia ports. The B.C. ports remain open.
The Montreal Port Authority raised alarm over a possible prolonged conflict, with CEO Julie Gascon saying at a Monday morning news conference that there will be “catastrophic” consequences for the Canadian economy if the lockout continues. She had previously called on the Canadian federal government to intervene in the labor action.
Gascon said it was only a “matter of days” before the lockout is felt by citizens daily. She estimated that over 10,000 workers in the logistics sector—from trucking and railway employees to maritime agents and pilots—will feel the brunt of the work stoppage.
Rail operations at the port’s Viau, Maisonneuve, Cast and Racine terminals have been suspended. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is not accepting any exports to the Port of Montreal due to the strike. Canadian National Railway suspended and removed all capacity at inland terminals for exports destined to Montreal’s terminals.
Maersk said Saturday it has three vessels underway with planned calls in Montreal. However, it is considering omitting Montreal and proceeding to Canada’s other major East Coast ports, Halifax and St. John, as part of its contingency plans in case the port doesn’t reopen. CMA CGM was evaluating whether one of its ships could import discharge at Halifax instead of Montreal.
“Each container that is not moved here in Montreal is a missing piece in the Canadian economy,” Gascon said. “Today, the lockout affects the logistics chain. Tomorrow, it’ll be the factories. After that, it’ll be the retailers.”
Roughly 320 CUPE longshoremen had already been on an indefinite strike since Oct. 31 as the union seeks out a new contract. But that strike only impacted two of the Montreal port’s terminals, which handled 40 percent of container traffic.
A larger overtime strike that affected all major terminals has been in place since Oct. 10, with a full-day strike taking place Oct. 27.
The MEA’s latest offer provided for a 3 percent salary increase per year for four years and a 3.5 percent increase for the two subsequent years, retroactive to the beginning of 2024. When the contract expires, the total average compensation of a longshore worker at the port would be more than $200,000 Canadian dollars ($144,000) per year.
According to the union, 99.7 percent of the members voted the deal down.
“The hostile offer was rejected because the employer refused to negotiate. Nothing in the offer reflects the union’s demands,” said Michel Murray, union advisor at CUPE, in a statement. “If the MEA had respected the collective bargaining processes, solutions would have been found and a conflict at the Port of Montreal would have been avoided.”
According to the union, the new contract offer doesn’t address issues regarding scheduling and work-life balancing, which have been major sticking points in the negotiations.
On Sunday night, the MEA reiterated its request to Canada’s Minister of Labour, Steven MacKinnon, to intervene to resolve the impasse as quickly as possible.
“A number of economic and maritime players across the country have made the same request in recent weeks to get things moving,” the employers said. “Like the MEA, they all want this dispute to be resolved so that Québec and Canadian businesses can no longer be held hostage and rely on predictable and uninterrupted operations at the Port of Montreal.”
Tagging MacKinnon in a statement on X, Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet said, “This conflict will have major consequences on the economy if it continues. It is imperative that Ottawa act quickly to bring the parties to an agreement as soon as possible and restore activities at the Port.”
Marc Cadieux, president of the Quebec Trucking Association (ACQ), said that the labor disruption directly impacts land transportation and the hundreds of jobs associated with it.
“Nearly 2,000 trucks move through the Port of Montreal every day. The freezing of its activities will have an immediate impact on many carriers who may have to consider layoffs,” Cadieux said in a statement. “The ACQ strongly urges the responsible stakeholders to find a solution to restart commercial activities at this crucial point of global trade as soon as possible and avoid compromising our reputation on the international stage.”
The Port of Montreal longshore workers have been without a new collective bargaining agreement since Dec. 31, 2023.
Lockout at Port of Montreal could be
'catastrophic' for economy, port authority
says
CBC
Mon, November 11, 2024
A lockout at the Port of Montreal began Sunday evening. The CEO of the Montreal Port Authority said the labour dispute will disrupt the Canadian economy if it doesn't get resolved. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press - image credit)
If the lockout of dockworkers in Montreal persists, there will be "catastrophic" consequences for the Canadian economy, particularly in Quebec and Ontario, the local port authority warns.
On Monday morning, Port of Montreal CEO Julie Gascon held a news conference, less than 12 hours after the lockout began.
The lockout is the latest escalation in a labour dispute that has heated up in recent weeks. The Port of Montreal moves $400 million worth of goods every day and is Canada's second busiest port after Vancouver, which is also mired in a labour dispute. A lockout also began there last Monday.
On Thursday, the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) tabled what it described as a final offer, which came with a 72-hour lockout notice.
The MEA threatened to lock out workers as of Sunday at 9 p.m. if they didn't accept the offer.
The dockworkers overwhelmingly rejected the offer, with 99.7 per cent of members voting against it, according to a spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Gascon said it's only a "matter of days" before the effects of the lockout are felt on a daily basis by everyday people, not just the workers. She said the lockout directly affects 1,200 workers at the port, but 10,000 other workers who depend on the port's flow of goods, like truck drivers and marine pilots, could also be caught in the dispute.
She also mentioned businesses, big and small, who rely on materials delivered through the port.
"Each container that is not moved here in Montreal is a missing piece in the Canadian economy," Gascon said.
"Today, the lockout affects the logistics chain. Tomorrow, it'll be the factories. After that, it'll be the retailers."
Some essential services like wheat transportation continue but most merchandise is frozen.
A sign reading "closed" is shown next to the entrance to a terminal at the Port of Montreal in Montreal, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, where a lockout of dock workers has been declared by the employer.
A sign reading "closed" is shown next to the entrance to a terminal at the Port of Montreal in Montreal, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, where a lockout of dock workers has been declared by the employer. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
'Dockworkers won't get down on one knee'
Last week, the MEA said its newest offer includes a three per cent salary increase each year for four years and a 3.5 per cent increase for the two subsequent years. The association says those increases would bring the Montreal dockworkers' total average compensation to more than $200,000 per year at the end of that proposed contract.
The association added that it wants dockworkers to provide at least one hour's notice when they will be absent from a shift — instead of one minute — to help reduce management issues "which have a major effect on daily operations."
The union representing dockworkers, the Syndicat des débardeurs du port de Montréal, dismissed the offer. It said it only contains "comestic changes" and doesn't address issues around scheduling, a major sticking point in negotiations.
On Monday, a few hours after the Port of Montreal met with the media, the dockworkers' union, held a news conference of its own. For more than a decade, no progress has been made on issues such as work-life balance and work schedules, declared Michel Murray, the union's spokesperson.
"The lockout in Vancouver, the lockout in Montreal, we see as a co-ordinated, planned group effort to put pressure on the government to intervene in our case," he said.
Asked about the salary increase proposed by the employer, Murray replied that it was "snake oil" and that it was not true that dockworkers could earn $200,000 at the end of the contract.
"To earn 200,000, a dockworker would have to earn $97 an hour all year round. The employer's offer in 2029 is $51 an hour," he said.
Murray described a "vengeful, contemptuous" employer, pointing to "1,200 disciplinary measures per year" and workers heavily monitored by surveillance cameras.
"As long as there's no change in this 13-year-old philosophy, labour relations will remain the same and the dockworkers won't break. Dockworkers won't get down on one knee," said Murray.
"Dockworkers will be proud to work and to give productivity when they are respected by the employers association and by these maritime companies."
Murray says his group has been trying for three weeks to get the employer's availability dates to resume negotiations.
On Monday, the MEA declined CBC News's request for an interview.
'The urgency is real'
The collective agreement between the maritime employers and the dockworkers expired on Dec. 31, 2023.
The labour dispute ramped up in late September, when the workers rejected an offer and approved a strike mandate.
Dockworkers went on a three-day strike on Sept. 30, closing two terminals — Viau and Maisonneuve — that handle more than 40 per cent of the port's container traffic.
Since Oct. 31, the union launched an indefinite strike that has shut down those two terminals.
In a statement sent by his office on Monday, Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said the parties involved in this dispute must understand the "urgency of the situation and do the work necessary to reach an agreement."
"Canadians are counting on them," reads the statement.
The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal is urging the government to force the re-opening of operations at the Port of Montreal.
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