Hands off Montreal longshore workers' Charter rights, CUPE tells feds

OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE is calling on the federal government to resist pressure from CEOs and their conservative allies, and not intervene in the labour dispute at the Port of Montreal. Over 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal represented by CUPE have voted almost 98 per cent in favour of strike action if a fair deal can't be reached with their employer.

During the last round of bargaining in 2021, the Trudeau government imposed forced arbitration and legislated workers back to work. As a result, none of the key issues were resolved at the bargaining table, and all those same issues have now resurfaced three years later.

"It's another textbook example of how government tampering in collective bargaining prevents labour peace, rather than enabling it," said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. "Our message to the Trudeau government is simple: back off. Let the parties negotiate a fair deal. And don't even think about touching our members' Charter rights to free and fair collective bargaining."

Workers at the Port are fighting for wage increases to help them keep pace with the cost of living, as well as better work-life balance.

"The Supreme Court of Canada has been crystal clear: the right to strike is constitutionally protected in Canada," said CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick. "The prime minister and the labour minister should ask themselves: do they stand with workers and with the Charter, or with CEOs and rich companies who are trying to suppress the rights and wages of their employees?"

It is also noteworthy that another labour stoppage has been in effect at the Port of Quebec for two years over the exact same issues. However, the federal government has not intervened because the stoppage was initiated by the employer, and the workers – also represented by CUPE – have been locked out by and replaced by scab labour. Using scabs will soon be illegal once the recently enacted federal anti-scab legislation Bill C-58 comes into force.