MONTREAL — Employers at the Port of Montreal say they are at an impasse with striking dockworkers, contradicting the federal labour minister’s upbeat assessment of talks as the port shutdown hits 10 days.
Martin Tessier, head of the Maritime Employers Association, told reporters Wednesday that “negotiations are not really progressing” and characterized any progress as “very slow.”
The remarks follow Labour Minister Filomena Tassi’s depiction of “encouraging progress made between the two parties” this week, an appraisal that backs Ottawa’s decision to avoid intervening despite pleas from industry groups and the Ontario and Quebec governments.
Tessier says he has asked the union to move 477 containers out of about 11,500 now on the waterfront in order to clear essential goods such as pharmaceuticals and medical equipment as well as perishable foods and hazardous materials.
He says the union has agreed only to move COVID-19-related cargo.
The strike by 1,125 dockworkers, who have been without a collective agreement since September 2018, revolves largely around wages and scheduling. The union did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2020
The Canadian Press
