A tentative agreement has been reached between the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) and Unifor, an Oct. 29 news release said. Workers will return to work the morning of Monday, Oct. 30 with ships starting to pass through the seaway once again.
The strike lasted just over a week with 360 workers walking off the job on Sunday, Oct. 23. The agreement will need to be ratified by employees in the coming days.
“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,” Lana Payne, Unifor national president, said in a release. “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.”
Details of the tentative agreement will first be shared with members and will be made public once an agreement is ratified, the release said.
“We have in hand an agreement that’s fair for workers and secures a strong and stable future for the Seaway,” Terence Bowles, SLSMC president and CEO, said in a release. “We know that this strike has not been easy for anyone, and value the patience and cooperation of our marine 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.”
