Employers lock out longshore workers in Montreal after contract offer rejected
“There are 1,200 dockworkers not working, but also all the truckers, pilots, and others who support the port,” Gascon explained.
On Sunday night, the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) locked out nearly 1,200 longshore workers at the Port of Montreal, halting port operations.
The MEA is urging federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to intervene to resolve the deadlock at Canada's second-largest port.
“A number of economic and maritime stakeholders across the country have called for action in recent weeks to get operations moving,” the MEA stated. “Like the MEA, they all want this dispute settled so Quebec and Canadian businesses can rely on the Port of Montreal's predictable, uninterrupted operations.”
Julie Gascon, CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, warned about the economic fallout of a prolonged dispute.
“There are 1,200 dockworkers not working, but also all the truckers, pilots, and others who support the port,” Gascon explained.
She added that this is especially concerning given Montreal’s central role in the global economy.
“We serve 65 percent of Canada’s population and 75 percent of the country’s manufacturing capacity,” Gascon told CityNews. “This is damaging our reputation and our ability to be seen as a reliable trade partner. Maritime companies want certainty—they need to know if their ships will be loaded or not, and right now, we can’t provide that, so they look elsewhere.”
The lockout, which began at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, followed a rejection of the latest contract offer by the unionized workers. A spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said the workers voted overwhelmingly—99.7 percent—against the proposal.
Michel Murray, from CUPE Local 375, stated, “We are in a lockout situation because the employers refuse to negotiate. We’ve made multiple offers, but they’re not respecting our right to negotiate. The main issue is work-life balance. If you want a long-term contract, we need to address scheduling.”
The union has stated it is willing to accept wage increases similar to those given to workers in Halifax and Vancouver—20 percent over four years. The workers have been without a contract since December 31, 2023.
Gascon noted, “This dispute has been ongoing for over a year. From the Port of Montreal’s perspective, we want the conflict resolved so operations can resume. The Port of Montreal is not the employer and doesn't make these decisions. What we need is a resolution.”
The lockout in Montreal comes as similar disputes are affecting British Columbia’s ports, where a lockout is also disrupting container traffic along Canada’s west coast.
“The government has tools and options, but it’s up to them whether they wish to intervene,” Gascon said. “They’ve been working with both parties for the past year with a federal mediator.”
The closure of much of the Port of Montreal is expected to have widespread consequences across Quebec and Canada, especially for small businesses, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
“Businesses can’t receive the goods they need or send out what they were planning to ship to customers,” said CFIB Vice-President Jasmin Guénette. “We’re urging the federal government to act quickly and end the current work stoppage at the Port of Montreal.”
