Business, Freight News, Sea

Dockworkers Strike Montreal Terminals

[ October 4, 2024   //   Gary G Burrows ]

The Montreal Port Authority, or MPA, is feeling the impacts of a partial strike by Longshoremen’s Union CUPE Local 375 workers at the Port of Montreal’s Viau and Maisonneuve terminals the morning of Sept. 30.
MPA said the work stoppage effectively closed the two terminals and “paralyzed 40 percent of total container handling capacity.” Terminal operator APM experienced an accumulation of containers on the ground, including temperature-controlled containers for food, pharmaceutical and medical products.
In addition, goods scheduled to transit the two terminals were held up at forwarding agents, and five container ships due to arrive at the Port of Montreal were delayed.
APM said it had activated its business continuity plan, to ensure that the pressure tactics to be applied do not adversely affect the rest of port operations and has set up a web page (https://tinyurl.com/585t6jt8) enabling Port of Montreal users to keep abreast of developments and operational impacts.
The union was expected to continue the strike at the two terminals to the morning of Oct. 3.
“This situation deprives our customers and partners of 40 percent of container handling capacity on the St. Lawrence at a crucial time, when both import and export holiday cargo must transit through the Port of Montreal,” said Julie Gascon, MPA president and CEO, in a statement. “It is vital that the parties reach an agreement as soon as possible, given that US$6 billion worth of goods are expected to pass through the Port of Montreal over the next few weeks.
“What’s more,” she continued, “the climate of uncertainty that accompanies the lack of progress between the two parties means that we have to anticipate long-term impacts. Supply chain reliability is at the heart of port users’ business decisions, and that’s why I’m calling on both parties to return to the table and reassure the thousands of companies that rely on our services to export and import goods crucial to their operations,” Gascon said.
The Maritime Employers Association said Sept. 29 it had tried “all possible means” of avoiding a strike, including in mediation and at an emergency hearing before the Canada Industrial Relations Board that afternoon.
“The MEA had sincerely hoped to find common ground between the parties so that we could maintain operations. We are thus disappointed with this outcome,” association spokeswoman Isabelle Pelletier said in a statement, according to CBC.
The Port of Montreal is the largest container port in Eastern Canada, second largest in the country, and the only container port in Quebec. The diversified transshipment center handles containerized and non-containerized cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk. It is also an intermodal hub with its own rail network directly dockside connected to Canada’s two national rail networks. The MPA also operates a cruise terminal and a port center.

Tags: Montreal Port Authority