Longshoremen working at the Port of Montreal overwhelmingly rejected their employer’s offer in a vote that followed months of talks over the renewal of their collective agreement.

The longshoremen’s union affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees voted 99.7% to reject the offer by the Maritime Employers Association.

The union said 91% of the union’s 1,125 members participated in the vote.

The union representing the longshoremen have recently concluded a seven-month truce with the employer following a 10-day strike.

That agreement expired March 20th.

Talks stumbled last year mainly over the issue of working hours.

The collective agreement expired on December 31st, 2018.