The Port of Montreal will face a 24-hour strike starting Sunday, October 27, after longshore workers issued a strike notice to the Maritime Employers Association (MEA). The stoppage, set to last from 7 a.m. on Sunday to 6:59 a.m. on Monday, will halt work across the port, including at the Contrecœur terminal.
Longshore workers, represented by CUPE Local 375, have been without a collective agreement since December 31. Tensions have been high since a three-day strike in September that disrupted nearly half of Montreal’s port activities. Another ongoing strike since October 10 has further restricted port operations by halting all overtime work.
MEA emphasized the impact of these strikes, noting, “The strike called on 30 September by the union paralyzed operations for three days at the Viau and Maisonneuve (Termont) terminals, which represent 41% of the Port of Montreal’s activities, resulting in lasting consequences. The strike that began October 10, 2024, which completely halted overtime in all its forms, is still ongoing and continues to cause damages.”
The MEA also highlighted a significant decrease in cargo volume, with container handling down by 24% since 2022. This drop has primarily benefited U.S. East Coast ports, which have absorbed some of Montreal’s lost traffic amid continued disruptions in Canadian and Quebec supply chains.
Canadian Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon recently attempted to mediate, offering to appoint a special mediator to break the impasse. However, the proposal was ultimately withdrawn after the parties failed to agree. MEA noted, “After 35 mediation meetings over 15 months, it is clear that the parties are still at square one and at an impasse.”
Looking ahead, both the MEA and union representatives will meet with Canada’s Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) next week in a renewed effort to find common ground. MEA stated its commitment to the process, adding that it “urges the union to demonstrate the same openness.”
With three vessels en route, including the 5,000-TEU MSC Anya, set to arrive during the strike, the Port of Montreal’s latest industrial action is expected to further challenge logistics operations across Eastern Canada and Quebec.