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Unifor and St. Lawrence Seaway Management to Resume Talks

Tuesday, 24 October 2023 14:35

By Linda Morgan

Federal mediators have called both parties back to negotiations

Unifor says federal mediators have called the union and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation back to the bargaining table. 

Talks are set to take place on Friday. 

"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 on the union's website 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."

Hundreds of workers walked off the job on Sunday, affecting shipments along the St. Lawrence Seaway between Montreal and Lake Erie. 

The union has said wages are the main sticking point, but the corporation warns higher wages could mean higher tolls. 

Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini says the sooner the two sides can reach a deal, the better. 

"We have under two months of the shipping season left. There's a lot of product to be moved. We're talking grain, fertilizers, iron ore, cement. There's all kinds of bulk shipments that need to be moved."

Welland Mayor Frank Campion agrees. 

"My main concern is that any extended period of time will have an effect on the entire economy, not only in Welland, but Niagara and potentially globally. It's a lot of impacts, as product can't get out."

Last year, over $16 billion worth of cargo was shipped through the Seaway. 

 

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