MONTREAL — Longshore workers at the Port of Montreal began a new partial strike today, forcing the indefinite closure of two container terminals at the country’s second largest port.

The Port of Montreal says the Viau and Maisonneuve terminals are closed until further notice, crippling 40 percent of the port’s total container handling capacity.

The union representing nearly 1,200 longshoremen began its latest strike at 11 a.m., affecting the two terminals operated by the Termont company.

The move comes on top of an ongoing overtime strike affecting the entire port and a three-day strike at the same two container terminals earlier this month. The union also organized a 24-hour work stoppage on Sunday.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has said it is prepared to end the strike if it can reach an agreement on part of the dispute, which centers on a scheduling practice used by Termont.

The Maritime Employers’ Association denounced the strike but said it could not grant the request to change working hours without formal negotiations taking place.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 31, 2024.

The Canadian Press