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July 23, 2010

Port of Montreal employers and union to end lockout Saturday

The lockout at the Port of Montreal is set to end Saturday morning according to an interim agreement between management and workers.

The unionized longshoremen are to vote on the deal on Friday morning and if it is approved, work should resume Saturday.

Negotiators for harbour employers and the locked-out workers had begun talks on Thursday on the possibility of ending the lockout and reopening the port.

On Monday, July 19, faced with labour pressure tactics the Port of Montreal's Maritime Employers Association (MEA) ordered a lockout of some 850 employees covered by the accreditation certificate held by the Longshoremen's Union, CUPE Local 375.

According to the MEA the main issue is job and revenue security. Considering existing market conditions, the MEA can no longer accept such a large gap between the amount of hours worked and paid for by longshoremen and the amount of hours not worked but fully paid for.

On Wednesday the Federal Government referred the issue of maintenance of activities at the Port of Montreal to Canada Industrial Relations Board. Under the Canada Labour Code, the Board, upon referral by the Minister during a labour dispute, may issue binding orders with respect to the maintenance of activities to ensure that a work stoppage does not threaten public safety or health.

Up to date information can be found on the Port of Montreal's website and on the Maritime Employers Association's website.