The employers’ association at the Port of Montreal has issued the dockworkers’ union a “final, comprehensive offer,” threatening to lock out workers at 9 p.m. Sunday if a deal isn’t reached.
Increase per year for four years
The Maritime Employers Association says its new offer includes a three per cent salary increase per year for four years and a 3.5 per cent increase for the two subsequent years. It says the offer would bring the total average compensation package of a longshore worker at the Port of Montreal to more than $200,000 per year at the end of the contract.
The MEA agrees to increase
“The MEA agrees to this significant compensation increase in view of the availability required from its employees,” it wrote in a news release.
The association added that it is asking longshore workers to provide at least one hour’s notice when they will be absent from a shift — instead of one minute — to help reduce management issues “which have a major effect on daily operations.”
1,200 longshore workers
The Syndicat des debardeurs du port de Montreal, which represents nearly 1,200 longshore workers, launched a partial unlimited strike on Oct. 31, which has paralyzed two terminals that represent 40 per cent of the port’s total container handling capacity
40% of Montreal’s container traffic operated by Termont,
.So far, two terminals operated by Termont, representing about 40% of Montreal’s container traffic and 15% of total port volume
If the operators’ offer is not accepted, all longshoring at the port would be locked out, the association said. Longshore workers transfer cargo from ships to trucks and trains and move cargo around on docks.
Both sides have a responsibility
The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association said in a statement on Thursday evening that it is scheduled to meet with International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 representatives with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service on Saturday afternoon.
Federal Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon has said both sides have a responsibility to reach an agreement ,He criticized the lack of apparent progress at both ports.
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