The labour impasse between the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) and the Unifor union appears to have ended after a weekend of negotiations between the two sides.
Approximately 360 members of five local chapters of the Unifor union in Ontario and Quebec were on the picket line starting October 22, 2023, after failed negotiations.
According to the SLSMC, the agreement will have to be ratified by employees in the coming days, but implementation of the recovery program will begin immediately, with shipping resuming progressively as of Monday, October 30th, with employees returning to work at 7am.
Terence Bowles, SLSMC president and CEO says they have in hand an agreement that’s fair for workers, and secures a strong and stable future for the Seaway.
“We know that this strike has not been easy for anyone, and value the patience and cooperation of our marine industry industry bi-national partners, carriers, shippers, ports, local communities, and all those who depend on this vital transportation corridor on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border,” said Bowles, in a press release issued Sunday night.
Farm groups and agricultural industry stakeholders were pushing for a fast conclusion to the strike, due to significant impacts on grain and fertilizer shipments every day that the strike was in place.
Related:
Shipments halted as St. Lawrence Seaway workers go on strike
