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Montreal dockworkers' union turns down offer; lockout begins

The Montreal Longshoremen's Union declined a last offer produced a brand-new labour contract, leading to a lockout being stated, the Maritime Employers Association ( MEA) and the union said on Sunday.

The MEA stated in a statement the lockout, which will affect almost 1,200 port workers at the Canadian port that handled 8.7 million metric lots in the third quarter of 2024, has actually been stated since 9 p.m. eastern (02:00 GMT).

The lockout will even more slow Canadian imports and exports at a time the Port of Montreal was currently operating at partial capability and as West Coast ports are stopped due to a separate disagreement.

The union representing longshoremen at the Port of Montreal stated the deal was turned down by 99.7% of members since the company refused to work out.

If the MEA had appreciated the collective bargaining procedures, services would have been discovered and a dispute at the Port of Montreal would have been avoided, said union adviser Michel Murray in a declaration.

Two terminals operated by Termont, the container terminal operator based out of the Port of Montreal, representing about 40% of Montreal's container traffic and 15% of total port volume, have been closed down by the union's strike, which began on Oct. 31.

Nevertheless, after Sunday's statement all longshoring at the port will be locked out. And only necessary services unrelated to longshoring will continue at the Port of Montreal.

The MEA said that its last offer attended to a 3% income increase annually for 4 years and a 3.5% increase for the two subsequent years.

West Coast ports including Canada's largest port of Vancouver have actually likewise been primarily closed down because Monday due to a. labor dispute, impacting exports of canola oil and forest. products.

(source: Reuters)