Lockouts shut Canada's two largest container ports until a federal order

In November 2024, labour disputes shut down container operations at both of Canada's largest ports at the same time.

Two lockouts

• West Coast. On Nov. 4, the B.C. Maritime Employers Association locked out more than 700 workers in International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514, after the union issued a 72-hour strike notice.
• Montreal. On the evening of Nov. 10, the Maritime Employers Association locked out about 1,200 dockworkers represented by CUPE, after members rejected its latest offer by 99.7%. Workers there had been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2023, and scheduling was a central issue. Only essential services and three terminals (Bickerdike, liquid bulk and grain) kept running. The Port of Montreal moves nearly $400 million in goods a day.

The order to resume

Days after the Montreal lockout began, at the request of federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered the lockouts to end and the disputes sent to binding arbitration. Vancouver's four container terminals restarted between Nov. 15 and Nov. 20. All four Montreal container terminals resumed on Nov. 16.

Backlog

• In Vancouver, average container dwell time was 7.7 days, compared with about 4.5 days in October.
• In Montreal, more than 5,000 TEUs were on the ground, with 22 vessels on the way or at anchor.

The Montreal Port Authority said it could take a few weeks to restore the normal flow of goods.