Seaway workers ratify new collective agreement

By Maritime Magazine
2023-11-03

By Leo Ryan, Editor

Some 360 unionized Seaway workers in Canada have ratified a new three-year collective agreement that notably includes the settlement of a major wage issue. Wages will see annual increases of 5 %, 4% and 4%, retroactive to April 1st, 2023, along with a $2,000 signing bonus.

Resumption of navigation on the critical binational waterway linking the Atlantic Ocean to the industrial heartland of North America actually began on Monday. Teams from the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) returned to their jobs prior to formal ratification following an eight-day strike.

The Unifor members at the SLSMC ratified new collective agreements by large majorities – with the maintenance, operations and clerical group voting 85% in favour, and the supervisory group voting 87% in favour. The previous agreements expired on March 31, 2023.

The ratification followed the strike that halted transit along the Seaway from October 22 to October 30, 2023. More than 100 vessels were unable to enter or exit the system of 15 locks during a key period of the late season for the shipping of grain, iron ore and other products.

“I congratulate the members of the St. Lawrence Seaway on their new collective agreements and Unifor is committed to making this the start of a better and more respectful workplace for our members,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “We saw incredible solidarity from members in Ontario and Quebec who stood together to demand a fair contract for all – and that’s the real power of a union.”

The agreements cover 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.

“The ratification of these tentative agreements is a collective victory and the fruit of unwavering solidarity on the part of Seaway workers,” said Daniel Cloutier, Director of Unifor Québec. “I would like to express my deep gratitude to every member who contributed to the resolution of this dispute. Your dedication and solidarity are the cornerstone of our union, and I am honoured to represent such outstanding members.”

SLSMC’s Terence Bowles applauds dedication of employees

“The collective agreement reflects the important contributions Seaway employees make every day to keep this critical transportation corridor moving and delivering for local, regional and binational economies,” said SLSMC President and CEO Terence Bowles. “In particular we thank employees for their hard work and cooperation in recent days to support the safe and efficient reopening of the Seaway to shipping traffic.”

Since the resumption of navigation at 7:00 a.m. October 30th, SLSMC teams have worked together with marine industry partners to clear the backlog of waiting vessels throughout the system. By November 1st, the re-opening plan had been fully implemented, the SLSMC stated.

Over the coming weeks, as the end of the navigation season approaches, the SLSMC will continue to take measures to maximize the movement of vessels carrying essential cargo along the Seaway, it added.

The St. Lawrence Seaway handled 36.2 million tons of cargo in 2022 and supported more than 24,000 jobs in the United States and 44,000 in Canada.

The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) estimate the strike cost stakeholders and shippers at least $35 million per day collectively.

While the mediated collective bargaining deadlock persisted, the federal government was urged by a wide range of industry sectors to intervene by possibly imposing back-to-work legislation. These included top executives of shipping lines Algoma Central Corporation and Canada Steamships Lines and such industry groups as the Chamber of Marine Commerce, the Shipping Federation of Canada, the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the American Great Lakes Ports Association, and the Western Grain Elevator Association.