Last week Labour Canada reported that that Mr. André G. Lavoie was appointed as mediator-arbitrator on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 by the Minister of Labour.
Also last week the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) issued a bilingual memorandum providing details and timing of the mediation/arbitration process included in Bill C-29 that will guide the work of Mr. Lavoie. The MEA memorandum, in both languages, can be found by clicking on the link below.
On May 12, the Port of Montreal published the following news release on the recovery.
STATUS OF THE SITUATION: BACK TO BUSINESS
Activities resumed at the Port of Montreal almost two weeks ago as a result of Bill C-29 and the end of the dockworkers’ strike.
There have been significant logistical challenges over the past few weeks due to a build-up of about 20,000 TEUs on the ground. Our teams have been working hard with our intermodal partners, including the rail and trucking companies, to ensure that normal operations resume as soon as possible.
We are pleased to report that now, with 2,500 trucks transiting through the Port of Montreal daily, the trucking situation is back to normal and the delays have been cleared.
On the other hand, moving goods by rail remains a challenge. In collaboration with our partners, we are actively seeking solutions, including increasing the number of cars available.
Despite sustained efforts to limit the disruptions, we are mindful that you can still expect delays. We think that it will take a few more weeks to resume normal operations.
To check the current status of your goods, you must contact the logistics service provider (shipping line or freight forwarder) assigned to transport your goods.
We will keep you informed of all developments.