Unifor & St. Lawrence Seaway Reach Tentative Agreement Over Weekend, Seaway to Reopen!

Cornwall/Montreal – The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) and UNIFOR, representing 360 unionized employees, have reached a tentative agreement over the weekend to end the strike that began on October 22nd.

The agreement will have to be ratified by employees in the coming days.

The SLSMC said they will begin to implement their recovery program immediately and will start passing ships progressively as of Monday, October 30th, with the return to work of employees at 07:00 am.

“We have in hand an agreement that’s fair for workers and secures a strong and stable future for the Seaway,” said SLSMC President and CEO Terence Bowles. “We know that this strike has not been easy for anyone, and value the patience and cooperation of our marine industry binational 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”.

“For the first time in 55 years, seaway workers took the very hard decision to go on strike. They did so to fight for a more respectful workplace and for an agreement that reflects today’s economic times,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “They have shown that the best deal is reached at the bargaining table, and I congratulate the committee on their outstanding work on behalf of their members.”

The tentative agreement covers Unifor members at Locals 4211, 4212 and 4323 in Ontario and Locals 4319 and 4320 in Quebec, who work in the supervisory and engineering group and the maintenance, operations, and clerical group.

Details of the tentative agreement will first be shared with members and will be made public once an agreement is ratified. A vote will be scheduled in the coming days.