Canadian workers reach deal to end strike that shut down Great Lakes shipping artery

A week-long strike that disrupted a major shipping route in the Great Lakes has ended, with workers in Ontario and Quebec reaching an agreement.

Strike background: About 360 employees affiliated with Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, walked out on October 22 protesting against wage issues with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.
* The strike halted operations of 13 locks on the seaway between Lake Erie and Montreal, disrupting ships’ movement.

Impact assessment: The week-long strike, which occurred during one of the busiest times for the seaway, was estimated to cost up to $100 million per day in economic activity for Canada and the U.S.
* This key waterway, linking Atlantic Ocean to the western tip of Lake Superior, carried over $12 billion worth of cargo last year.

The resolution: St. Lawrence Seaway Management confirmed that shipping will restart as employees resume work at 7 a.m. Monday.
* Unifor stated that the specific details of the new agreement will be shared with members before being revealed to the public, once the deal is ratified.

A relevant look back: This marks the first time since 1968 that a strike has completely halted the operations of this crucial shipping route.
View original article on NPR
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