Seaway Workers and Employer Reach Agreement to End Strike

The two parties made the announcement separately by press release in the middle of the evening on Sunday.

“We have in hand an agreement that is fair for workers and which ensures a solid and stable future for the Seaway,” declared Terence Bowles, president and CEO of the CGVMSL, in the press release from the employer side.

“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 strike. vital transportation corridor on both sides of the Canada-US border.”

The Corporation was not available for an interview on Sunday evening, indicating in particular that as the agreement must be ratified this week by employees, “it would be inappropriate to share the details.”

The organization’s vice-president, external relations, Jean Aubry-Morin, however, clarified in an email that the agreement “is both fair for workers and ensures a solid and stable future for the Seaway.”

The approximately 360 employees are represented by Unifor. Five locals, two in Quebec and three in Ontario, went on strike last Sunday after voting 99% in favor of such a mandate.

Workers will have to vote on this agreement on Thursday, said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor director for Quebec.

“It is a very interesting offer, it will be recommended to our members unanimously by the negotiating committees involved,” underlined Mr. Cloutier in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press. 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, Lana Payne, Unifor national president, said in a statement. They have shown that the best agreement is reached at the bargaining table, and I congratulate the bargaining committees for their remarkable work on behalf of their members.

Salary was the main point of dispute, but labor relations were also an issue of contention.

“On a monetary level, we are very satisfied with the agreement,” commented Mr. Cloutier. There were also issues relating to labor relations: there was talk of a toxic climate at a certain point, but the Employer agreed to embark on a continuous process of improving labor relations.”

“People have confidence that it meets the expectations of the members, so much so that work will resume tomorrow morning at seven o’clock,” added Mr. Cloutier.

For its part, the CGVMSL indicated that it will quickly undertake the implementation of its reopening program to allow the gradual passage of ships through the seaway from Monday morning.

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.

“Recognizing that this strike has not been easy for anyone, we greatly appreciate the patience and cooperation of our binational maritime industry partners; carriers, shippers, ports, local communities and all those who depend on this vital transportation corridor on both sides of the Canada-US border,” said Mr. Aubry-Morin in an email. (With information from Lia Lévesque)