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Montreal port employers threaten to shut down

Port of Montreal terminal operators threatened to close most operations on Sunday, after presenting a "final and comprehensive offer" (to the longshore union).

The Maritime Employers Association announced on Thursday that if the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 375 did not accept the offer before Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m., "only essential services will be provided and non-longshoring activities will continue in the Port of Montreal after 9 p.m. Sunday," it said.

The union strike that began on October 31 has shut down two terminals owned by Termont. These two terminals represent about 40% of Montreal container traffic, and 15% of the total port volume.

The association stated that if the offer of the operator is not accepted then all longshoring in the port will be blocked.

The association claimed that its offer of pay represented a "cumulative" increase of more than 20% over six-years.

On Friday, a CUPE spokesperson stated that "an offer has already been made, and the union will be reviewing it."

Vancouver, Canada's biggest port and the largest on the West Coast of Canada, has also been largely shut down due to a labour dispute since Monday. This has affected exports of forest products and canola oil. Bulk grain exports have not been affected. (Reporting and editing by Alison Williams; Ed White)

(source: Reuters)