Port of Montreal Strike Anticipated After Longshoremen File Strike Notice
Many shipping companies have already redirected cargo away from the Port of Montreal due to recent disputes between employers and workers.
A three-day Port of Montreal strike is scheduled for Monday, September 30 at 7:00 a.m., after longshoremen represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) filed a 72-hour strike notice on Friday.
This will be the third strike action at the Port of Montreal since 2020, and it is expected to disrupt operations throughout the nation's second-largest port. Since May, many shipping companies have been rerouting cargo due to potential disruption and labour unrest.
The walkout at Termont Montreal’s Viau and Maisonneuve terminals is expected to affect 35% of container shipments and impact about 350 workers.
Termont announced on its website that these two terminals would be closed for three days and that operations would resume on Thursday, October 3, at 7:00 a.m.
CUPE spokesperson Michel Murray emphasized that the Port of Montreal strike stems from the reduced use of senior foremen and scheduling issues at the Termont facilities. He added that the union “would be willing to lift the strike notice if the employer is willing to address” these key issues.
Last week, the 1,150 longshoremen overwhelmingly rejected the latest Maritime Employers Association (MEA) offer by 99.63%. Murray highlighted that “the union’s concerns have not been adequately addressed,” which led to the Port of Montreal strike mandate.
MEA acknowledged the strike notice, warning that “any work stoppage at the Port of Montreal has major consequences.” The association also stressed the urgency of securing a collective agreement, with longshoremen's cargo handling having dropped 24% since 2022.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) echoed these concerns. CFIB vice president Jasmin Guenette stated, “There have been too many strikes affecting our supply chains in recent years, causing delivery delays, production slowdowns, and impacting small businesses’ bottom lines.”
In a post on X, Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he was closely monitoring the situation, noting that “the Port of Montreal is critical to our supply chains.”
Negotiations between employers and the union are ongoing, while mediation efforts continue to prevent operation disruptions.
We’re following this story closely and will keep you updated. For more information about how the three-day strike could affect your business, please reach out to one of our trade professionals.