Lockout of Port of Montreal workers may lead to AbitibiBowater layoffs

Exporters, like AbitibiBowater, may have to lay off workers if the lockout of the Port of Montreal workers continues.

850 port workers were locked out on July 18 over a wage dispute.

AbitibiBowater, North America’s largest newsprint maker, ships a “significant” portion of its paper and lumber through the port. Jean-Philippe Cote, spokesman for AbitibiBowater, said the company has been forced to store products in warehouses and may need to make temporary layoffs should the lockout drag on.

In addition, Cascades may have to delay a $20 million investment to one of its Quebec plants because some of the parts for the plants machinery are stuck inside a container at the port.

Read more:

Montreal Port Lockout May Spark Abitibi Layoffs, Cascade Investment Delays (Bloomberg)