Chamber of Marine Commerce Urges Government Intervention to Reopen St. Lawrence Seaway

The Canada-baed Chamber of Marine Commerce is calling for the Canadian government to step in to restore full operation of the St. Lawrence Seaway if negotiations between the striking parties fail to yield an agreement when they return to the bargaining table this Friday.

The strike, which began on Sunday, October 22, has led to the complete closure of the vital bi-national waterway connecting the upper Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.

Employees from five UNIFOR union locals, three in Ontario and two in Quebec, employed by Canada-based St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), initiated the strike action at 12:01 a.m. after failing to reach a new labor agreement covering more than 350 union workers at 13 Canadian locks.

The closure of the waterway is estimated to result in a staggering CAD $100 million loss in economic activity per day in both the U.S. and Canada.

To mediate talks between the union and employer, the Canadian government has scheduled negotiations starting this Friday in Toronto.

The St. Lawrence Seaway, managed on the Canadian side by the SLSMC, is a crucial conduit for trade across North America. The economic significance of the waterway is substantial, with annual economic activity amounting to $12.3 billion CAD ($9.5 billion USD). Furthermore, it supports nearly 67,000 direct and indirect jobs, generating approximately $5.4 billion CAD ($4.2 billion USD) in wages. In terms of cargo, it facilitates the movement of 36.3 million tonnes of key commodities valued at $16.7 billion CAD / $12.8 billion USD.

The two U.S. Seaway locks (Eisenhower and Snell), located in Massena, New York, are managed by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS), which falls under the Department of Transportation.

The Chamber of Marine Commerce, stressing the urgent need to swiftly resolve the dispute, emphasized that the strike’s impact on the economy, jobs, and the supply chain underscores the importance of marine shipping on the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway.

“The Seaway has always maintained a reputation for operational reliability, and it is therefore our industry’s expectation that the matter will be resolved with minimal disruption, with the support of the Canadian Federal government,” stated the Chamber.

A prompt resolution is crucial to ensure the uninterrupted movement of vital commodities such as grain, cement, stone, gypsum, salt, and iron ore—essential for various sectors, including construction, food supply, safety, steelmaking, and the automotive industry.

“The Chamber of Marine Commerce, on behalf of the marine shipping industry, businesses, and consumers throughout Canada and the USA, is calling on the SLSMC, UNIFOR, and the Canadian Government to take all necessary steps to resolve the dispute now and resume traffic on the Seaway. The North American economy, tens of thousands of jobs, and our quality of life depend on it,” the Chamber said.

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