Unifor, the union representing striking employees working for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) have announced their acceptance of a call for mediation that was issued by the federal government.
Approximately 360 employees began strike action on Sunday, October 22 after failing to reach a negotiated agreement with their employer over the issue of wages.
Since the strike began, no commercial cargo has been travelling through the 300km St. Lawrence Seaway which stretches from Montreal to Lake Erie and sees $16.7 billion worth of cargo travel through it every year.
“We negotiated in good faith right up to the last moment, but we cannot allow workers’ rights to be compromised. We remain open to discussion and hope that the employer will reconsider its position for the good of all,” said Unifor Quebec director Daniel Cloutier in a statement on Sunday.
No talks had taken place since Sunday as Unifor members took to the picket lines.
On Tuesday, October 24, Unifor announced that it would agree to the federal government’s call for mediation and will resume talks on October 27.
“Unifor will comply with the call to mediation and will continue to support our members on the picket line while talks take place,” a statement from the union reads. “Our goal remains to achieve a fair and reasonable collective agreement for those who work along the St. Lawrence Seaway. We strive to also make sure our members, their rights and collective agreement are respected by the corporation.”
Employer refuses to meet wage demands
“The parties are at an impasse as Unifor continues to insist on wage increases inspired byautomotive-type negotiations,” reads a statement from the SLSMC.
The SLSMC is referring to the negotiated agreement that Unifor reached on behalf of their autoworkers and major car manufacturers.
Unifor president Lana Payne said of the deal that the union reached with Ford in September that it would be life changing for their members.
READ MORE: Unifor reaches deal with Ford; Payne: ‘We will change lives with this agreement’
The SLSMC raised concerns about the impact that the closure of the St. Lawrence Seaway would have on the global supply chain, with over 100 vessels waiting to enter the seaway at the beginning of the week.
The SLSMC stated that they had sought a ruling from the Canada Industrial Relations Board as to whether under the Canada Labour Code that the union might be forced to provide employees to keep the seaway in operation to ensure the flow of grain was not interrupted.
In a statement on Twitter, Canada’s Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan said that he and Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez had called on both sides to return to the negotiating table.
The Transport Minister @pablorodriguez and I just had calls with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. and Unifor.
Our message was clear: get back to the table. Work together to reach a deal and get the seaway moving again.
— Seamus O'Regan Jr (@SeamusORegan) October 22, 2023
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