Ships will start working again along the St Lawrence river this morning, bringing an end to an eight-day strike after a deal was struck Sunday with around 360 workers and members of Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, in a dispute over wages with the St Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.
“Details of the tentative agreement will first be shared with members and will be made public once an agreement is ratified,” said a union statement.
The strike shut down 13 locks on the seaway between Lake Erie and Montreal with around 150 vessels affected.
“For the first time in 55 years seaway workers took the very hard decision to go on strike. They did so to fight for a more respectful workplace and for an agreement that reflects today’s economic times,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president. “They have shown that the best deal is reached at the bargaining table, and I congratulate the committee on their outstanding work on behalf of their members.”
