Dockworkers at the Port of Montreal have halted all overtime work in a pressure tactic targetting management as contract talks continue.
The overtime strike by the union representing nearly 1,200 longshore workers at the port kicked off as planned at 7 a.m. EDT on Thursday, the Maritime Employers Association confirmed.
The union has said scheduling remains a key stumbling block in the bargaining sessions, which resumed last week alongside federal mediators. Unpredictable shifts as well as reduced use of senior forepersons during operations are the major concerns, according to the union local, affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e ready to negotiate intensively, but since the employer is dragging his feet, we91裸聊视频檙e putting a little pressure on him to devote his energies to finding a solution,91裸聊视频� said union spokesman Michel Murray earlier this week.
The Maritime Employers Association (MEA) struck back, warning that employees assigned to shifts with incomplete crews will not be paid because they slow or halt the flow of freight.
The association, which represents shipping companies and terminal operators, said the freeze on overtime work will have a big impact on operations.
91裸聊视频淭he MEA believes that the systematic refusal of overtime will have significant repercussions on the port91裸聊视频檚 activities 91裸聊视频� even to the point of stopping operations 91裸聊视频� and, by extension, on businesses, industries and the public,91裸聊视频� the group said in a statement Wednesday.
The limited job action comes after a three-day strike last week at two terminals that handle 41 per cent of container traffic at the country91裸聊视频檚 second-largest port.
Shipping companies may already be looking to mitigate the cost of potential cargo delays and rerouted vessels.
On Tuesday, Danish shipping giant Maersk announced it will slap a surcharge of $2,000 per container on Canada-bound freight from Europe.
Distributors and retail outlets worry they as well as consumers will bear the cost.
91裸聊视频淎 couple of grand on a box that91裸聊视频檚 only $4,000 or $6,000 is a pretty hefty premium,91裸聊视频� said John Corey, president of the Freight Management Association of Canada, whose members include port authorities, manufacturers and other large shippers such as retailers Canadian Tire and Home Depot.
As companies seek other routes to market, fewer containers may be available to Canadian shippers, resulting in potential supply chain snarls and price hikes.
91裸聊视频淏oats are going to be rerouted either to Vancouver or Halifax. It then causes crowding there,91裸聊视频� said Lisa McEwan, co-owner of Hemisphere Freight, a customs brokerage firm.
Backlogs and labour disruptions tend to cause vendors and carriers to think twice about shipping as much cargo, she noted.
91裸聊视频淭hey don91裸聊视频檛 send as many containers over because it91裸聊视频檚 going to take time for them to get those containers back,91裸聊视频� said McEwan.
91裸聊视频淚f there91裸聊视频檚 less availability, then prices increase for shipping. That trickles down to the consumer and the importers and the shippers as well.91裸聊视频�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.
Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press
