(Montreal) The strike that began on October 22 in the St. Lawrence Seaway could end shortly, as the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (CGVMSL) and the union representing the 360 employees concerned reached an agreement on Sunday.
The CGVMSL made the announcement in a press release in the middle of the evening on Sunday.
“We have an agreement in hand that is fair to workers and ensures a strong and stable future for the Seaway,” said Terence Bowles, president and CEO of the SLSMC, in the press release.
“We know this strike has not been easy for anyone and appreciate the patience and cooperation of our binational maritime industry partners, shipowners, shippers, ports, local communities and all those who depend on this vital transportation corridor on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.”
The approximately 360 employees are represented by Unifor. Five locals of the Unifor union, two in Quebec and three in Ontario, went on strike last Sunday after voting in favor of such a mandate in a proportion of 99%.
Workers will have to vote on this agreement in the coming days. The affected units affect employees who work in the supervisory and engineering group and in the maintenance, operations and office staff group.
“For the first time in 55 years, seaway workers have made the difficult decision to strike. They did this to fight for a more respectful work environment and for a contract that reflects the current economic situation, said Lana Payne, Unifor national president, in a statement. They have shown that the best deal is achieved at the bargaining table, and I commend the bargaining committees for their outstanding work on behalf of their members.”
For its part, the CGVMSL indicated that it will quickly begin the implementation of its reopening program so that employees can return to work this Monday at 7 a.m. to allow the gradual passage of ships in the seaway.
The agreement comes after two days of mediation, which began Friday in Toronto. The parties were gathered in the company of the federal mediation service, in the hope of finding a resolution to the conflict which paralyzed the St. Lawrence seaway, from Montreal to Niagara, via the locks, for a week.
Several economic and political players have spoken out on the issue since last Sunday: the prime ministers of Quebec and Ontario, François Legault and Doug Ford, the Quebec Grain Producers union and business associations.
