Canada: Maritime employee lockout ongoing at Port of Montreal, Quebec, as of early Nov. 11 amid strike /update 2

The Maritime Employers Association (MEA) initiated a lockout of employees at the Port of Montreal as of early Nov. 11 due to ongoing stalled negotiations with the Port of Montreal Longshoremen’s Union, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 375. The MEA has stated that the lockout would affect all employees except essential services and non-long shoring activities.

CUPE Local 375 is maintaining a partial, indefinite strike at the Port of Montreal to demand higher pay; the work stoppage is affecting functions at both Termont terminals. Activists are also refusing to work overtime as part of ongoing industrial action.

Businesses dependent on shipments through the Port of Montreal will likely experience heightened disruptions during the lockout. Lingering shipment disruptions are possible after the industrial dispute ends as the port works through the backlog. Port workers have not announced any related demonstrations, but gatherings remain possible near the port or government buildings. Heightened security and localized transport disruptions are possible near protests.