NORTH BERGEN, NJ (November 4, 2024) The fight against job-killing automation is currently raging at the Port of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where more than 1,000 members of International Longshoremen’s Association, (ILA) Local 1657, Checkers, Cargo Repairmen & Office Clerks would see their jobs disappear if Montreal Gateway Terminals and Termont Terminals implements its plan to install Optical Character Recognition (OC) hardware on all ship to shore gantry cranes, top end and reach stackers.
“This phase will see the significant reduction of ILA 1657 checkers as we will no longer be required to take the inventory of the entire terminal, the unloading of the rail or the unloading of the ship,” said Donald Beerworth 3rd, ILA Local 1657 Business Agent/Secretary Treasurer, in a letter to International ILA President Harold Daggett. “This will result in us losing at least half of our ILA membership to technology.”
International President Daggett offered immediate help in a solidarity message to ILA Local 1657 members.
“Your 85,000-member ILA stands in full solidarity and support with our Sister and Brother members of ILA Local 1657 in the Port of Montreal as you fight job-eliminating automation, artificial intelligence, OCR and jurisdictional infringement,” said President Daggett. “We are all too familiar with the tactics of companies like Hapag Llyod, OOCL, CMA, Maersk and MSC, who want to cast aside the longshore workers who helped build their companies into billion-dollar enterprises, in favor of automation.”
ILA President Daggett predicted the support of worldwide docker unions in support of ILA Local 1657.
“I am confident that with the support of your International Longshoremen’s Association, coupled with solidarity from Global Dockworker Unions, you and your members will ultimately achieve success in this battle. Together, we will win!”
Read ILA President Harold Daggett’s letter to ILA Local 1657.