Union sources say that dock workers at the Port of Montreal have rejected the latest offer made by the Maritime Employers’ Association (MEA) in a vote that took place on 21 March.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]According to the source 99.7% of the dockers that voted rejected the deal as they were unhappy at the fact there the offer did not alter the rostering system, and this was not a negotiated settlement, but was termed a ‘final offer’, which dockers interpret to mean that the MEA is not seriously negotiating but would prefer the union to be stripped of its right to negotiate by the government and the courts.
CUPE representative Michel Murray argued that work schedules remain at the heart of the dispute. “They are no longer adapted to the economic situation of the port mainly because of the increase in hours worked. We must review the working hours. Our people need more work-life balance,” said Murray, adding that longshoremen work 19 out of 21 days and have one in three weekends off.
In a move that the union believes shows the sincerity of the workforce the membership also voted for the union’s bargaining committee to continue negotiations, even though CUPE 375 is in a legal position that will allow dockers to strike, they prefer to remain at the bargaining table.
It is also the case that the MEA is in a legal position that would allow employers to lock workers out.
Some union members believe that the MEA does not intend to negotiate a fair collective bargaining agreement. “The evidence is in their multiple attempts to have the labour tribunal take away the workers’ rights to bargain a deal,” said the source.
[/s2If]
[s2If !is_user_logged_in()]Please login or register to read the rest of the story[/s2If]
