Shipping and Logistics
St. Lawrence Seaway Reopening After Tentative Labor Pact Is Reached
Written by Laura Miller
October 30, 2023
The St. Lawrence Seaway is reopening after a tentative agreement has been reached between striking Unifor members and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (SLSMC).
Canadian union Unifor announced the tentative agreement on Sunday, Oct. 29, noting that it was reached during negotiations mediated by Canada’s federal government.
The 360 SLSMC employees represented by Unifor must still ratify the agreement. A vote is being scheduled for the coming days, the union said.
The strike against the SLSMC began on Oct. 22. It shut down the lock system managed by SLSMC between Montreal, Quebec, and Lake Erie.
The SLSMC said in a statement sent to SMU that it has begun to implement its recovery program and “will start passing ships progressively as of Monday, Oct. 30, with the return-to-work of employees at 7:00 a.m.”
“We know that this strike has not been easy for anyone, and value the patience and cooperation of our marine industry bi-national partners; carriers, shippers, ports, local communities, and all those who depend on this vital transportation corridor on both sides of the Canada-US border,” said Terence Bowles, SLSMC president and CEO.

Laura Miller
Read more from Laura MillerLatest in Shipping and Logistics

Wittbecker on Aluminum: US-China trade war clobbers cross-Pacific trade
Container shipping lines have sharply increased blank sailings on Transpacific routes in response to escalating trade tensions between the US and China.
Volvo plans to lay off up to 800 workers at US truck plants
The company cited uncertainty about freight rates and demand, regulatory changes and the impact of tariffs.

Trump signs executive order aimed at making US shipbuilding ‘great again’
President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order meant to breathe new life into American shipbuilding and curb Chinese dominance in the sector.

Great Lakes iron ore trade fell again in March
Recall that shipments also saw a sharp decline in January.

Longshoremen ratify contract with maritime alliance
Nearly 99% of ILA members voted in favor of a new labor deal with the United States Maritime Alliance that covers workers at ports on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.