Port of Montreal employer issues ‘final’ offer to dock workers, threatens to shut out – Montreal

The employers’ association at the Port of Montreal has issued a “final, complete offer” to the dock workers’ union, threatening to lock out workers by 9 p.m. Sunday if an agreement is not reached.

The Maritime Employers Association says its new proposal includes a three percent annual wage increase for four years and a 3.5 percent increase in the following two years.

It says the bid will bring the Port of Montreal’s longshoreman’s total compensation package to more than $200,000 a year by the end of the contract.

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In return, the employers’ association says it is asking longshoremen to give at least one hour’s notice when they will be off work – instead of one minute – to help reduce management problems.

Longshoremen began an indefinite strike on Oct. 31, which has disabled two terminals representing 40 percent of the port’s total container handling capacity.

The union previously said it would accept the same increase offered to its counterparts in Halifax or Vancouver – 20 per cent over four years.

The employer says that in the event of a shutdown, only essential services and activities not related to longshoring will continue in the port after 9pm on Sunday.