Montreal dockers face looming threat of Trudeau back-to-work law on second day of strike
Yesterday at 7:00 a.m., 1,150 dockers at the Port of Montreal launched an indefinite general strike. Underscoring that the workers’ struggle is above all a political fight, the federal Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau is rushing to pass antidemocratic strikebreaking legislation little more than a day after the job action began.
Without a contract since December 2018, the Montreal dockworkers are waging a determined fight against the Maritime Employers Association’s (MEA) attempts to impose regressive changes to their working conditions.
Port of Montreal workers during their strike last August.
MONTREAL Business associations, minority groups, unions and other special interests reacted to the federal Liberal s budget on Monday, with some praising its initiatives in childcare, and others saying it falls short in other areas. Quebec Finance Minister took to Twitter to express support for the extension of pandemic economic support measures such as the Emergency Wage Subsidy, rent assistance and the Canada Economic Stimulus Benefit. But he criticized the budget for not including a permanent 35 per cent increase to healthcare funding, calling it a missed unique opportunity. 1/3 Suite au dépôt du budget de @cafreeland, nous tenons à saluer les mesures de relance et la prolongation des mesures de soutien dont la subvention salariale d’urgence, l’aide aux loyers commerciaux et la Prestation canadienne de relance économique #polcan#polqc#Budget2021
Partial strike at Eastern Canada s biggest port to clog shipping already under strain thewhig.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thewhig.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Marcy Nicholson and Sandrine Rastello (Bloomberg)
A partial strike scheduled to start Wednesday by Port of Montreal dockworkers threatens to increase congestion in other parts of North America and further waylay shipments at a time of surging shipping costs and delays.
Longshoremen at eastern Canada’s biggest port will work regular shifts Monday through Friday without overtime hours and refusing to work weekends. This comes after the Montreal Employers Association stated it will exercise its right to lockout, the workers’ union said, following drawn-out contract negotiations.
The port’s capacity is now expected to drop by 30%, Montreal Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Martin Imbleau said in a statement.