Written by
Nick Blenkey
Picture: Seaway Administration
On October 18, Unifor, Canada’s largest non-public sector commerce union notified the St. Lawrence Seaway Administration Company that its members are able to strike as of midnight on Saturday, October 21, 2023, which might successfully shut down transit via the Seaway.
Administration of the Seaway is shared by the U.S. and Canada and the St. Lawrence Seaway Administration Company is liable for the motion of marine visitors via the Canadian Seaway amenities, which consists of 13 of the 15 locks between Montreal and Lake Erie.
Unifor says its choice, which it calls “drastic,” follows the issuance of a 72-hour strike warning to the employer, underscoring the depth of dissatisfaction and the crucial for a swift decision to the continuing disputes.
“Employers have seen that employees will completely use their proper to strike after they really feel it’s essential, and our members in all items on the Seaway have had sufficient,” stated Lana Payne, Unifor Nationwide President. “It’s time to come back to the desk with a critical wage supply or the employer can watch what occurs when employees stand collectively and demand their fair proportion.”
Unifor members at Locals 4211, 4212 and 4323 in Ontario and Locals 4319 and 4320 in Quebec have all delivered robust strike mandates. Members within the supervisory and engineering team of workers in Locals 4211 and 4319 rejected a tentative settlement on August 1, 2023 and have aligned their plans with the upkeep, operations and administrative unit that lately voted 99% to strike.
“This employer has proven no willingness to handle the employees’ considerations within the office or strategy them with a respectful wage supply,” stated Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director. “A strike is at all times a device of final resort with regards to negotiations, however these employees have been clear and are united of their targets – they’re prepared.”
Negotiations had been reportedly nonetheless ongoing right now as employees ready to arrange picket traces at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023.
The St. Lawrence Seaway Administration Company (SLSMC) stated that the labor motion would affect grain actions “throughout a interval when the world is in dire want of this important commodity, whilst provide has been affected bythe scenario in Ukraine and the better frequency of maximum climate occasions being experiencedaround the world.”
“The SLSMC stays dedicated to acquiring a good settlement, and can proceed to cut price in
good religion with the help of a federally-appointed mediator,” the company stated including that it has began implementing its detailed plans for an orderly and protected shutdown of the system inside the 72-hour discover interval. Ought to the strike motion proceed, the St. Lawrence Seaway shall be closed to all visitors.
Yesterday, a Seaway Discover knowledgeable vessels of the cut-off occasions established to permit 24 hours to clear the Montreal-Lake Ontario Part (MLO) of upbound ships, 28 hours to clear MLO of
downbound ships, and 14 hours to clear the Welland Canal by 00:01 October 22, 2023.
