On top of the potential October 1st US East/Gulf Coast Port strike, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has issued a 72-hour notice for strike at two (2) of its five (5) container terminals in the Port of Montreal.

This labor action is a result of a standoff between the local longshore union and the port’s maritime employers and would be set to last from September 30th through October 2nd, 2024. The two (2) terminals, which can handle a combined total of 1.1 million TEUs, account for 41% of Montreal’s container capacity. Reports indicate that the port’s other three (3) terminals will remain open.

In preparation for the strike, the CN said it will stop accepting railed export traffic to the Termont and VIAU terminals from Sunday, September 29th through Tuesday, October 1st. The Port of Montreal said that vessel calls to the two (2) targeted terminals will be suspended, and that trucks and rail will not be able to access them. The VIAU terminal primarily handles services operated by Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), while Maisonneuve handles MSC, OOCL, and Hapag-Lloyd services.

RIM will be closely monitoring this situation and will keep you advised of further updates. Please reach out to your RIM Representative should you have any additional questions or concerns.