CUPE 375, the union representing longshore workers at Montreal, Eastern Canada's largest port, has issued a 24-hour strike notice, running from 7 a.m. local time on October 27 to 6:59 a.m. (local time) on October 28.

The strike comes amidst an ongoing labor dispute that began on October 10. A previous three-day strike, which disrupted operations at the Viau and Maisonneuve (Termont) terminals, ended on October 2.

The union has yet to reach an agreement with the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) on a collective bargaining agreement, following the expiration of the last such pact on December 31, 2023.

Ship-tracking data from S&P Global shows that only eight container ships remain bound for Montreal in the coming week. These are MSC Anya, MSC Celine, MSC Levina III, MSC Sena, Hapag-Lloyd's Genoa Express and Ontario Express, CMA CGM-operated EM Kea, and OOCL St. Lawrence.

In a statement on October 24, the MEA expressed its regret over the latest industrial action.

The association said: "These pressure tactics employed by the union have created significant operational issues, adding to a series of obstacles that have had a serious impact on the stability and reliability of the Port of Montreal, as well as the Quebec and Canadian supply chain."

The MEA appealed to the union to consider the impact on the Montreal port, which has seen declining container volumes since 2022. In 2023, Montreal handled 1.5 million TEUs, down from...