Canada’s Maritime Employers Association (MEA) is asking the Minister of Labour and Seniors, Steven MacKinnon, to appoint a special mediator as it has so far failed to reach a consensus with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), which has called for strike action in Montreal port’s Viau and Maisonneuve terminals today (31 October).

Since December 2023, Montreal’s dockers have had no collective agreement, and over the past month, have engaged in intermittent industrial action. On 28 October, the ILA, which represents dockers along North America’s east coast, gave 72 hours’ notice of the strike, planned for 11 am local time today.

MEA is asking MacKinnon to appoint the mediator by 3 December.

MEA said: “Discussions over the past few hours have failed to bring the union back to the table in a constructive manner. This pressure tactic will quickly lead to major operational upheavals, jeopardizing the operations of several companies, as well as the financial health of the MEA, which is already coping with declining volumes.

“It’s clear that the parties are currently at an impasse. The MEA is appealing for the government to appoint a special mediator to break the deadlock in negotiations as soon as possible.”

MEA said it will not comment further on the matter.