Operations to resume at Port of Montreal Saturday after government orders end to lockout

Operations will resume at the Port of Montreal Saturday morning following an order issued by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).

In a news release Friday, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) announced dockworkers will resume work at 7 a.m. at all port terminals.

The MPA said it will take a few weeks to "re-establish the fluidity of the supply chain" and process all goods currently waiting at the port or in transit.

It comes after the federal government stepped inTuesday and directed the labour board to end disputes at ports in Quebec and British Columbia.

The Maritime Employers Association (MEA) locked out 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal on Sunday night after workers voted to reject what the association called a final contract offer.

The MEA said it would comply with the labour board's directive, allowing Montreal port operators to resume activity over the weekend.

The unionrepresenting dockworkers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the resumption of activities.

Meanwhile, operations resumed at the B.C. port on Thursday afternoon.