ILWU Statement in Solidarity with Dockworkers in Montreal
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) stands firmly in solidarity with the 1,150 dockworkers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 375 who have been on strike in the Port of Montreal since this morning. These workers have been working without a contract since December of 2018.
“The Port of Montreal dockworkers and CUPE Local 375 have the full support of the ILWU. The right of workers to withhold their labor to improve their conditions is a fundamental right of all working people. Forcing these dockers to return to work without resolving the underlying issues will only incentivize the employers to prolong the crisis without a fair resolution to this conflict,” said ILWU International President Willie Adams.
The employers have unilaterally expanded the workday for dockworkers. The workers are required to be available for work 19 consecutive days per three weeks, putting an unacceptable burden on CUPE Local 375 members trying to balance work and family.