St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation and Unifor agree to a voluntary arbitration process

Minister Leitch applauds both parties for proceeding to voluntary arbitration

OTTAWA, Nov. 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, congratulated the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation and Unifor for successfully negotiating a resolution to their current labour dispute by sending outstanding issues to voluntary arbitration.

Minister Leitch met with the parties late last week and spoke to both parties throughout the weekend to encourage them to reach a negotiated agreement or agree to voluntary arbitration. The parties also received assistance from the Labour Program's Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which provides dispute resolution and dispute prevention assistance to trade unions and employers under the Canada Labour Code.

Quick facts

• The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation is a not-for-profit corporation responsible for the safe and efficient movement of marine traffic through the Canadian Seaway facilities, which consist of 13 of the 15 locks between Montreal and Lake Erie.
• The three collective agreements, covering some 600 supervisory employees, operations and maintenance employees and office employees working at the headquarters in Cornwall, Ontario, expired on March 31, 2014.

Quote

"I am pleased that the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation and Unifor have decided to send their outstanding issues to voluntary arbitration. This brings an end to their labour dispute and I applaud both parties for their commitment to reaching a settlement and ensuring the continuation of Canada's seaway operations."
– Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women

Associated Links

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Unifor serves strike notice to the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation

SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada

Jeremy Laurin, Manager of Issues and Stakeholder Relations, Office of the Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, P.C., O.Ont., M.P., Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, 819-953-1509, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected], Follow us on Twitter