The union representing Montreal dockworkers plans to challenge in court the federal labor minister’s decision to end the port closure by sending the dispute to binding arbitration.

The move comes as the union representing British Columbia’s dockworkers says it will challenge the federal government’s move to end the work stoppage there.

The Maritime Employers Association shut down 1,200 workers at the Port of Montreal on Sunday evening after workers voted to reject what the employers called a final contract offer.

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The job action came after dockworkers in British Columbia were shut out last week amid a labor dispute involving more than 700 shoreline supervisors, halting container shipping traffic at terminals on the West Coast.

Labor Minister Stephen MacKinnon intervened on Tuesday to end the two disputes and directed the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to order the resumption of all operations and move both sets of talks to binding arbitration.

Teamsters Canada is also challenging Ottawa’s use of the same mechanism to end nationwide rail shutdowns earlier this year.

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Labor Minister orders end to British Columbia and Montreal port closures through binding arbitration