November 20, 2023 – The Maritime Employers Association (MEA) has provided an update on negotiations at the Port of Montreal toward a new labour agreement. The current agreement will expire on December 31. The MEA filed an essential services request to the CIRB. CUPE Local 375 executives were granted until November 17 to respond. The MEA has 10 days to respond to the union’s submission, bringing the next steps in the request process to around November 27. The MEA, union and conciliators have met three times and have four meetings scheduled in the coming two weeks. The MEA said its objective remains a negotiated collective agreement.