Canada: Unionized maritime workers reach tentative deal, will reopen Saint Lawrence Seaway in Great Lakes region Oct. 30 /update 1

Unionized marine workers affiliated with Unifor, employed by the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), have announced that services will resume on the St. Lawrence Seaway in Ontario and Quebec provinces starting 07:00 Oct. 30 after they reached a tentative deal. Workers had been on strike since Oct. 22 to demand wage increases. The workers operate the water locks on the Saint Lawrence River and the Welland Canal that allow maritime traffic to run between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.

Lingering disruptions to business operations dependent on goods carried by ship through the Saint Lawrence Seaway are likely over the coming days as transporters work through the backlog of goods. Heavier demand for rail and truck shipments will probably continue as goods transfers offset sea lane congestion and backlogs. Lingering disruptions to industrial supply chains in the area are possible. The strike may resume in the coming days if the management fails to ratify the tentative deal.