ITF: Port lockout ‘a needless overreaction’

20 July 2010

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) today labelled the Port of Montreal lockout “a needless overreaction” and called for an immediate return to negotiations by the employers’ association.

Frank Leys, Dockers’ Section Secretary of the ITF, of which the Syndicat des Debardeurs , which is part of CUPE (the Canadian Union of Public Employees) is a member, commented: “A solution to the dispute at the port was within everyone’s reach. This lockout risks kicking it over the horizon and out of sight.”

He continued: “We’d remind the employers’ association that overtime is voluntary; not providing it is not a reason to be shut out of your job. Renegotiation of an existing agreement - which is what this is all about - isn’t done by barring the doors on those affected. Negotiation is the only way forward. The union is willing. It’s up to the employers to rescind this pointless ban and resume talks.”

The Syndicat des Debardeurs has described the lockout, which began yesterday, as “incomprehensible and pointless” and said that when the news reached them they were in the middle of a general meeting to cancel the planned application of pressure tactics. The union and the employer had met all afternoon on Sunday and planned to continue ongoing negotiations during the week.

"The best way to disrupt the functioning of the port is to lock up and send the workers packing. The solution is for the employer to let the work continue, in the port and at the negotiating table, and in the next few weeks, we’ll have an agreement," said union representative Michel Murray.

According to the Syndicat des Debardeurs, on June 27 the employer changed the working conditions of169 dockers with the least seniority. The longshoremen responded by refusing to work overtime as of July 9. "We wanted to demonstrate that our 169 colleagues are essential. The employer had to reinstate them to cover the overtime," said Murray.

ENDS

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org

Back to current press releases