MONTREAL — A solidarity party with pizza was held in front of the Port of Montreal Jan. 14. It brought together striking workers from Montreal Gateway Terminals and Pascan Aviation. Workers at both places are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
The 40 participants also included delegations from the CUPE workers at the Montreal Casino, who were on strike in 2022, and from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, who had gone on strike in 2019 and were locked out in 2024. Many drivers of passing cars and trucks honked in solidarity.
The 32 port workers at Montreal Gateway Terminals, who ship containers between Canadian companies and others around the world, have been on strike since Sept. 22. They had rejected the company’s offers by 100%. Many questions in the negotiations remain unresolved, including wages, the bosses’ use of subcontractors and staffing levels.
The 21 Pascan flight attendants have been on strike since Oct. 28. Wages are a central question in their fight too. Other issues include housing away from home and assignments and crew planning. Last week they had welcomed the port strikers on their picket line in front of Pascan’s offices near the Saint-Hubert airport.
Strikers told the Militant they’re waging tough fights. Both companies are using work by the bosses, scab labor, or subcontractors to undermine the strikes.
They need solidarity! Every honk or visit to their picket line is a boost to morale that strengthens their resolve to fight. The Montreal Gateway Terminals pickets are up from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the company’s office at the Port of Montreal. The Pascan strikers picket from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the company’s offices in Saint-Hubert.