St. Lawrence Seaway members vote in favour of new collective agreement

A strike at the St. Lawrence Seaway is officially over as Unifor members have ratified a new collective agreement. 

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation ratified new collective agreements with the maintenance, operations and clerical group voting 85 per cent in favour, and the supervisory group voting 87 per cent in favour.

The ratification follows a strike that halted transit along the Seaway from October 22 to October 30.

Unifor National President, Lana Payne, stated Thursday evening that the union saw incredible solidarity from members in Ontario and Quebec who stood together to demand a fair contract. 

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. 

Wages will see annual increases of 5 per cent, 4 per cent and 4 per cent, retroactive to April 1, 2023, along with a $2,000 signing bonus.

The agreement covers 360 workers who facilitate the transit of ships through the Great Lakes, along the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean.