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2021 Port of Montreal strike

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2021 Port of Montreal strike
DateApril 26, 2021 (2021-04-26) – May 1, 2021 (2021-05-01)
7:000
Location
Montreal, Quebec
Methods
Resulted inLegislation passed in the Parliament of Canada mandating an end
Parties

The 2021 Port of Montreal strike began at 7:00 AM on April 26, 2021, after Local 375 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (Syndicat des débardeurs du Port de Montréal) walked off the jobsite.[1] The strike is part of a dispute dating back to 2018, when the union and management were unable to negotiate a new contract.[2]

Background

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The Port of Montreal is Canada's second busiest port of entry with approximately $100 billion worth of goods passing through the port each year.[3]

Approximately 1,125-1,150 workers were part of CUPE Local 375 at the time.[1][4]

There had been a strike in August 2020, the Port of Montreal strike.[4] At the time, the union agreed to not strike for seven months.[5]

In March 2021, the union rejected a new contract from the Maritime Employers Association.[6]

Strike

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On April 26, CUPE launched an "unlimited general strike".[2]

A partial strike had started on April 17.[7][8] The full strike effectively began on the evening of April 23, due to ongoing actions against overtime and weekend operations, even as it officially started on April 26.[1]

In total the strike lasted 5 days, due to the federal government passing legislation to force it to end.[9]

Legislation

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Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021
Parliament of Canada
  • An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of operations at the Port of Montreal
CitationS.C. 2021, c. 6
Considered byHouse of Commons of Canada
Considered bySenate of Canada
Royal assent2021-04-30
Commenced2021-04-30
Legislative history
First chamber:
Bill citationBill C-29
Introduced byFilomena Tassi
First reading2021-04-27
Second reading2021-04-29
Committee of the Whole2021-04-29
Third reading2021-04-29
Second chamber: Senate of Canada
First reading2021-04-30
Second reading2021-04-30
Third reading2021-04-30
Status: In force

The federal government tabled legislation, Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021 (French: Loi de 2021 sur les opérations au port de Montréal), to require the resumption of operations at the port.[10] The legislation allows for arbitration to be imposed by the federal government.[10]

The Minister of Labour Filomena Tassi justified the legislation on the basis that there were medical supplies which were necessary to combat COVID-19 that were unavailable: "ships, currently with COVID-related products, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, that now cannot get through".[10] Filomena Tassi also described the issue as "life or death".[11]

In the House of Commons, three Liberals voted against the bill alongside MPs from Bloc Quebecois, the New Democratic Party and the Green Party.[12] The NDP criticised the Liberal Party of Canada for forcing the workers at the port to go back to work.[11] Bloc Quebecois described the legislation as "incompetence" rather than a "solution".[11] The Conservatives supported the bill but criticized the federal government for not resolving the issues earlier.[11]

The union described the legislation as unconstitutional and a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms due to it restricting the right to strike[10][13] The union also described the legislation as "neither helpful nor necessary" and said that the legislation undermined the "fundamental rights" of workers.[14] The union described the federal government as sending a "a strong and clear message" to all employers across Canada, with "no need to negotiate in good faith with your workers", because if faced with a difficult situation the federal government would support the employer.[15]

The union filed complaints with the International Labour Organization because Canada is a signatory to two international treaties relating to the right to strike.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Update: Strike at Port of Montreal". Buckland Customs. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Smalley, Megan (April 24, 2021). "Port of Montreal strike planned for April 26". Recycling Today. Archived from the original on May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  3. ^ Transport Canada. "Backgrounder on the economic impact of a strike at the Port of Montreal". Transport Canada. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Port of Montreal sees drop in shipments as labour dispute continues". CityNews Ottawa. March 30, 2021. Archived from the original on May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "Employers, striking dockworkers reach truce, Montreal port to reopen". Global News. August 21, 2020. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  6. ^ "Déjà vu as Port of Montreal strike looms". FreightWaves. March 19, 2021. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  7. ^ Biggar, Kim (April 26, 2021). "Longshoremen strike at Port of Montreal". Splash 247. Asia Shipping Media Pte. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  8. ^ Mullen, Avery (April 16, 2021). "Partial strike at Montreal port disrupting supply chain, piling on extra costs, shippers and manufacturers warn". Financial Post. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  9. ^ "Montreal dockworkers approve strike mandate". Financial Post. September 26, 2024. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d Tomesco, Frédéric (April 27, 2021). "Liberals table back-to-work legislation to end Port of Montreal strike". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d Berthiaume, Lee (April 27, 2021). "Ottawa tables back to work bill to end strike at Port of Montreal". Global News. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  12. ^ Bryden, Joan; Dib, Lina (April 29, 2021). "House of Commons approves back-to-work legislation to end strike at Port of Montreal". Global News. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  13. ^ Alhmidi, Maan (April 30, 2021). "Senate approves Port of Montreal back-to-work legislation". Global News. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  14. ^ "Canada lines up back-to-work legislation to end Montreal port strike". Reuters. April 27, 2021. Archived from the original on May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  15. ^ "Montreal port says work to resume, union vows to fight government's new law". Reuters. May 1, 2021. Archived from the original on May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  16. ^ "Port of Montreal union vows to contest federal back-to-work order". CBC News. April 29, 2021. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
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