The Port of Montreal Employers’ Association issued the dockers’ union a “final and comprehensive offer,” threatening to lock out workers at 9 p.m. Sunday if an agreement is not reached.

The Maritime Employers Association says its new offer includes a three per cent salary increase per year for four years and a 3.5 per cent increase for the following two years.

It says the proposal would bring the average total compensation package for a maritime worker at the Port of Montreal to more than $200,000 a year at the end of the decade.

Get breaking national news

For news affecting Canada and around the world, sign up to get breaking news alerts delivered to you right as they happen.

In contrast, the Employers’ Association says it requires workers in long-term areas to give at least one hour’s notice when they miss a shift – rather than one minute – to help reduce management issues.

Shipping workers began a partial, indefinite strike on October 31, paralyzing two terminals representing 40 percent of the port’s total container handling capacity.

The union previously said it would accept the same raises given to its counterparts in Halifax or Vancouver – 20 per cent over four years.

The employer says that in the event of a closure, only essential services and activities unrelated to long-distance port transportation will continue after 9pm on Sunday.