MILWAUKEE – On Sunday, October 22nd, UNIFOR, the unionized workers of Canada’s St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), went on strike, resulting in the shutdown of Canadian portions of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Seaway is a linear system of canals and locks through Ontario, New York and Quebec. Closure of any portion effectively results in closure of the entire waterway. As such, this labor action halted oceangoing vessel passage into and out of the binational Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System.
Negotiators from the SLSMC and UNIFOR attempted to reach agreement on a new employment contract for several months. The union gave 72-hour strike notification as required under Canadian law last Wednesday. Negotiations are continuing between the SLSMC and UNIFOR, with stakeholders throughout the Great Lakes calling on the Canadian government to engage in the process and end the impasse.
“Access to international markets and coastal waterways through the Seaway has contributed to Port Milwaukee’s ability to serve businesses, growers and producers in our region. The shutdown creates a clog in what has historically been a clear path for all stakeholders,” said Director of Port Milwaukee, Jackie Q. Carter.
As a result of the strike, multiple ships loaded with exports are unable to exit the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, and a growing queue of inbound ships are unable to enter or pass through specific segments.
“As an industry, we often tout the fact that the Seaway represents the third largest economy in the world. That reputation comes with great responsibility, and relies on an efficient and predictable system to ensure that commerce can continue,” said Carter.
Regional port and maritime officials are urging the Government of Canada to help facilitate a resolution of this labor dispute, and reopen the waterway.
Notes: This is the first strike-related, mid-season closure of the St. Lawrence Seaway since June 1968 … A recent economic impact analysis of commerce through the Seaway showed that, in 2022, the waterway handled more than 36 million tons of cargo and supported more than 24,000 jobs in the United States and 42,000 in Canada … Seaway officials estimate that every day of a mid-season Seaway shutdown costs the shared U.S./Canadian economy $50–$80 million USD, with impacts escalating should the closure prolong.
