The strike at the Port of Montreal moved a step closer to ending after members of the House of Commons approved back-to-work legislation early Thursday.
The legislation, Bill C-29, will require longshoremen at the port to return to work immediately after it takes effect. That could come as early as 12:01 a.m. Saturday if the Senate approves the bill on Friday, which is likely.
The 1,150 longshoremen, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local (CUPE) 375, will be prohibited from further strikes until they reach a new collective bargaining agreement with the Maritime Employers Association (MEA).
The longshoremen began a general strike on Monday, which shut down most cargo operations at Canada’s second-busiest port. It came less than a year after an 11-day strike, which ended in a truce.
For more information, please call David Lychek, Manager – Ocean & Air Services at (905) 882-4880, ext. 1207.
