Port of Montreal dockworkers to hold another partial strike — this time, with no end date
Business organization calls on government to declare ports essential
Kkritika Suri
Dockworkers at the Port of Montreal have voted to launch a partial, unlimited strike.
After staging a one-day strike on Sunday, the workers plan to strike again on Thursday. This time, the strike will be indefinite, targeting the two Termont terminals, which were previously affected by a partial three-day strike earlier this month.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), affiliated with the FTQ and representing nearly 1,200 longshore workers at Canada’s second-largest port, announced the strike will begin on Thursday at 11 a.m.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) expressed concerns on Sunday, stating the union's actions are already impacting small and medium-sized businesses, especially with the holiday shopping season approaching.
“It’s time the federal government made ports an essential service so that they remain operational at all times,” said Jasmin Guenette, the CFIB’s vice-president of national affairs.
The dockworkers have been working without a collective agreement since December 31, 2023.
Since October 10, they have refused overtime, citing disputes with employers over wages, work-life balance, and scheduling.
