The Port of Montreal Longshoremen’s Union (CUPE 375) and the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) have reached a tentative agreement on a seven-month truce ending the strike that began on August 10, 2020.
Michel Murray, spokesperson for CUPE 375, and Martin Tessier, President of the MEA held a joint press conference to that effect.
The parties are pleased to have found common ground on the parameters of a truce this morning. They are confident that they will be able to reach a negotiated agreement in principle by the end of the truce on March 20, 2021. A meeting to establish a return-to-work protocol is scheduled for tomorrow and the port will be operational again starting at 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
Both parties have agreed to suspend all pressure tactics during these months. By mutual agreement, they will be able to resort to arbitration at the end of this truce if certain points remain in dispute.
With close to 122,000 members in Quebec, CUPE represents the Port of Montreal Longshoremen’s Union as well as the longshoremen of the ports of Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Sorel, Matane, and St. Lawrence Stevedoring (Baie-Comeau), for a total of some 1,450 members. CUPE is also present in the following sectors: social affairs, communications, education, universities, energy, municipalities, Crown corporations and public agencies, air and ground transportation and the mixed sector. It is the largest union affiliated with the FTQ.
The mission of the Maritime Employers Association is to represent the maritime stakeholders of the ports of Montreal, Trois-Rivières/Bécancour, Hamilton and Toronto. It negotiates and administers the collective agreements of its members, which include ship owners and/or operators and/or agents as well as stevedoring companies.