Strike at Port of Montreal: Declaration of the Maritime Employers Association
The Maritime Employers Association (MEA) said in a press release issued at 6:40 pm ET yesterday that it “has tried all possible means of averting [today’s] planned strike at the Viau and Maisonneuve terminals, which are operated by Termont at the Port of Montréal, but to no avail.”
An emergency hearing on Sunday at the Canada Industrial Relations Board “did not bear fruit,” it said.
Read more in a press release from the MEA.
Find updates from the Port of Montreal here.
Source: CIFFA eBulletin
Shipping Industry Braces for East-Gulf Coast Dockworker Work Stoppage Oct. 1
The NCBFAA is closely monitoring the possibility of an East-Gulf Coast dockworker strike starting at midnight Tuesday, Oct. 1.
In recent weeks, NCBFAA has joined a handful of industry coalition letters to the White House urging the administration to use its authority to bring the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX)back to the bargaining table and avert a potentially devastating port strike. Just one day of closing the East and Gulf coast ports would cost the nation’s economy $5.6 billion.
On Friday, Sept. 27,the Biden administration called for both parties to come to Washington, D.C., to meet with Labor Secretary Julie Su and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, as well as other administration officials. The parties met individually with the administration officials.
In addition, USMX on Sept. 26 filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). See USMX’s statement here. The ILA responded by calling it a “weak publicity campaign.”
Meanwhile, additional Republican lawmakers, including Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy(R-LA) and Sen. Jerry Moran(R-KS), have sent President Biden letters calling for the administration to take all actions to prevent the strike.
Under the Taft-Hartley Act, Cassidy noted the White House can establish a board of inquiry and seek a court injunction grant to allow both parties to continue negotiations. So far, the Biden-Harris administration has refused to use their authority under Taft-Hartley or engage in any efforts to resolve the labor dispute between the ports and the unions.
The NCBFAA Transportation Committee urges members to check their East and Gulf coast container terminal and ocean container carrier webpages for the latest advisories pertaining to the strike.
Read more: WBAP & The Loadstar
Source: NCBFAA
