Employers' groups urge Trudeau to intervene in Port of Montreal strike

Six Quebec employers’ associations on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to intervene in the labour dispute at the Port of Montreal, even if it means adopting special legislation.

The Conseil du patronat du Québec, the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, the  Manufacturiers et exportateurs du Québec, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Association du camionnage and the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal met the media to make their request known.

The employers’ groups say even a partial strike is unacceptable because the port is not a part-time operation. They say they are calling upon Trudeau to intervene because the issue is not just that of a labour dispute but of economic recovery, and is serious enough to warrant special legislation.

The plea to Ottawa came after Port of Montreal authorities on Tuesday reported the facility’s capacity had been reduced by 30 per cent because of the labour dispute.

This was excerpted from the 13 April 2021 editon of the Montreal Gazette.