The Maritime Employers Association lifts the lock-out and activities are
resumed at the Port of Montreal

MONTREAL, July 23 /CNW Telbec/ - It is with great relief that the Maritime Employers Association has learned this morning that the agreement reached yesterday evening was ratified by members of the CUPE Longshoremen's Union, Local 375, so that Port of Montreal operations can resume.

Regular operations at the Port of Montreal will therefore resume tomorrow morning on Saturday, July 24, at 8 a.m., and the negotiations to renew the workers' collective agreement will begin on Monday, July 26, in the presence of the mediator.

For the Maritime Employers Association, the lock-out could only be lifted if the pressure tactics were stopped. In return, the MEA agrees to reinstate the job security and income guarantee program for the longshoremen who had been excluded from it on June 23 of this year, for the duration of the negotiations.

Based on recent statements issued by the union, which also wishes for a quick resolution to the issue of the rising costs of the job security and income guarantee program, the MEA views the upcoming negotiating sessions in a positive light.

About the Maritime Employers Association

The Maritime Employers Association is a non-profit organization representing member companies involved in shipping. Membership in the Association includes ship owners, operators and agents, stevedoring contractors and terminal operators. On behalf of its members, the Association is mandated to negotiate and administrate collective agreements covering over 1450 longshoremen in Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal and Trois-Rivières/Bécancour.

For further information: Gilles Corriveau, Enigma communications, 514 982-0308, ext. 207, Pager: 514 221-2604, [email protected]