Seven container ships called at port terminals and thousands of trucks and about 10 trains picked up the slack to transfer products to importers in Quebec , Ontario and the United States Midwest within the week.

The backlog from the work stoppage is expected to be resolved in three to four weeks ' time.

Both sides said they are optimistic this week that an agreement can be ironed out before March 20, 2021, at which point the agreement will end.

The longshore employees, who have been without a contract since September 2018, say the strike that started Aug. 10 has mostly revolved around salaries and schedules.

The MEA and CUPE Local 375 are required to make the most of this truce to find an agreement while the MEA and the Port of Montreal Checkers Union have succeeded in securing an agreement in principle that was ratified by representatives of the union on August 24.

Liquid bulk handling, the strike did not impact the Oxeanex operation at the Bickerdike Terminal, and the Viterra grain terminal.

Maritime Business World