(CTV.ca)
Progress has begun to emerge in on the second day of the Port of Montreal lockout Tuesday. Contract negotiations are set to begin Thursday, and the Longshoremen’s Union, Local 375 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees representing 850 longshoremen said Tuesday afternoon it is ready to begin discussions Wednesday.
Ships have been stalled from moving in and out of the port since Monday morning, stalling cargo from import/export companies and threatening business across the city and country.
As much as 60 per cent of exports, other than those to the U.S., transit through the Port of Montreal.
The lockout will cost the Maritime Employers Association $800,000 per week, spokeman Gilles Corriveau said Tuesday.
At issue for the union is job security, as well as keeping guaranteed payments when longshoremen are on-call and waiting for work.
The longshoremen, who unload shipping containers full of goods at the port, have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2008. Read more here.
