Port of Montreal longshoremen's union launches four-day strike

Longshoremen at the Portof Montreal launched a four-day strike Monday morning.

The union representing striking workers gave the Maritime Employers Association 72 hours notice Friday.

Union members affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees will not provide any mooring services during the strike, except for supplies to Newfoundland and Labrador and for grain vessels, in order to comply with a decision rendered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

The union said the dispute ismainly centred on working hours.

"The current system consists of working 19 consecutive days out of 21, 365 days a year, apart from public holidays and those when the port is closed," said union spokesperson Michel Murray.

After 19 days on the job, workers are then given a two-day break, he said.

"The employer has removed the work-life balance part that we were looking for," said Murray.

TheMontreal Port Authority (MPA)said in a Friday statement that thestrike does notaffect liquid bulk handling, the Oceanex service orthe grain terminal.

The statement says portactivities are essential to keeping the economy running smoothly and, in some cases, to ensure public health and safety.

"We are therefore monitoring the situation closely and we hope that the employer of the longshoremen, the Maritime EmployersAssociation, and the union will be able to come to an agreement quickly," said the MPA'sstatement.

In an email Monday, the MPA said the situation is "manageable," but some ships have slowedtheir course or will be anchored in standby for a few days while twoothers were able to leave this morning.