If you’re not familiar with the St. Lawrence Seaway, it’s a big deal. It’s a waterway that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, and it’s used by ships carrying all kinds of cargo and passengers across Canada and the U.S., Since October 18, the seaway has been closed because of a strike by its workers, who are unhappy with their pay, benefits, and working conditions12. And that’s causing a lot of problems for everyone involved.
The workers, who belong to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), say they haven’t gotten a raise since 2018 and work in unsafe and stressful environments due to staff shortages and old infrastructure. They also accuse the seaway management of breaking their contract and bargaining in bad faith. They want better wages, benefits, and working conditions, and they’re not backing down until they get them.
The seaway management group, called the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), says that the workers’ demands are unreasonable and unrealistic. They say they have offered a fair and competitive compensation package that reflects the market conditions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also say that they have taken various steps to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees and customers.
The strike has had a huge impact on the shipping and trade industry, which relies on the seaway for transporting goods and materials. According to the Chamber of Marine Commerce, an industry group, more than 50 ships carrying about 4 million tonnes of cargo are stuck in the seaway or waiting at anchorages. The chamber estimates that the strike is costing the Canadian economy about $250 million per week in lost revenues and extra expenses.
The strike has also affected the U.S. Navy, which had to delay the delivery of its newest ship, USS Marinette, from Wisconsin to Florida. The ship, which was supposed to leave on October 23, is now trapped in Lake Erie until the seaway reopens. The Navy is watching the situation and looking for other ways to transport the ship.
The strike has sparked calls for intervention from various parties, including federal and provincial governments, industry groups, and labor unions. Some have urged the seaway management and CUPE to resume talks and reach a deal as soon as possible. Others have suggested that the government should end the strike by law or appoint a mediator to help resolve it. But so far, there has been no sign of a breakthrough or an end to the deadlock.
The St. Lawrence Seaway strike is one of the most prolonged and most disruptive labor disputes in the history of the waterway, which opened in 1959 and handles about 160 million tonnes of cargo every year. The strike has shown how important and vulnerable the seaway is for both Canada and the U.S., as well as how much it needs to be updated and maintained. As the strike enters its second week, many are hoping for a quick and peaceful resolution that will restore normal operations and minimize further damage to the economy and trade.
