Canada’s St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) and UNIFOR have successfully concluded collective bargaining negotiations, reaching a tentative agreement for employees represented by Locals 4211, 4319, 4212, 4323 and 4320.
The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by union members.
“We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement through the collective bargaining process,” said Jim Athanasiou, President and CEO of SLSMC. “This agreement not only recognizes the valued contributions of our employees but also supports a strong, sustainable future for the Seaway and the vital industries and communities it serves. I want to thank everyone involved in the negotiations for their work in reaching this agreement.”
The agreements cover 320 workers in the Maintenance and Operations group and the Engineering and Supervisory group. These members facilitate vessel transit through the Great Lakes and along the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean.
“Our members play a critical role in operating one of the country’s most strategically important pieces of economic infrastructure. Throughout these negotiations, they demonstrated that when workers remain united and stand together, they have real power to advance their priorities,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The agreements were reached after several months of negotiations and on the eve of the deadline to issue 72-hour strike notice.
(Vessel in Seaway photo from greatlakes-seaway.com and group photo from Unifor)
