January 2, 2024 – Happy New Year! On December 22, the Maritime Employers Association issued the following update."Parties have had several mediation meetings in the last weeks, supported by the experts of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and more meetings are planned in January. "We want to remind you that a demand for maintaining essential activities, in accordance with the requirements of the Canada Labour Code, is still pending at the Canada Industrial Relations Board. "The CIRB has requested more information [from] the parties, [with] responses [due] at the end of January; no pressures tactics can occur before a ruling. "Our priority remains the signing of a negotiated collective agreement." This means that no labour disruption is possible until the ruling has been made, which appears to be moving into February at the earliest. The port remains fully functional in the meantime.