Operations have resumed at the Port of Montreal following an order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). Work resumed at the port on Nov. 16 after the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) locked out about 1,200 longshore workers on Nov. 10.

This development comes after Canada’s federal labour minister, Steven MacKinnon, directed the end to the work stoppage and ordered negotiations to move to binding arbitration.

The Port of Montreal Longshoremen’s Union (CUPE 375) and the MEA have agreed to enter into a mediation process for a period of 90 days in an attempt to reach a contract agreement.

The Port of Montreal’s longshoremen’s union has been without a contract since its previous agreement expired in December 2023.