A new five-year collective agreement covering more than 1,200 longshore workers at the Port of Montreal is set to take effect, bringing a prolonged labour dispute between the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) and the workers’ union to a close.

Negotiations to renew the agreement began in 2023 and were subsequently marked by strikes and work stoppages that disrupted port operations and supply chains.

Talks continued until mid-March 2025, when, according to the MEA, federal mediators ended the mediation process and the dispute proceeded to final and binding arbitration.

Last week, the MEA announced the new collective agreement covering the five years from 2024 through 2028. However, neither the MEA nor CUPE Local 375 disclosed further details of the agreement.

Most longshore workers at the Port of Montreal are represented by CUPE Local 375. Some employees, including checkers, cargo repair workers and office clerks, are represented by International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1657.

The new resolution ends uncertainty stemming from difficult negotiations and service disruptions, while supporting the continuation of reliable and competitive port services with growth potential.