Cornwall - Members of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE), a Component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), who work for the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority (GLPA), have entered into a legal strike as of November 18, 2019 at 6 p.m.
PSAC/UCTE Local 00057, are the dispatchers and office staff who work in Cornwall and have been without a contract since June 30, 2016. The Local is comprised of 13 workers, 10 dispatchers and 3 office staff, who are integral to the operation of the seaway and the millions in economic trade that flow through it.
“These workers are vital to the operations of trade shipments through our Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River; which are critical for our regional and national economies,” says Sharon DeSousa, PSAC Ontario Regional Executive Vice-President. “Moreover, this work is important to the wellbeing of Canadians and the environment, as nuclear waste and oil is transported along these waterways.”
This round of bargaining has been extremely difficult. In an attempt to reach a fair contract, we have undergone conciliation and have since been negotiating with the assistance of a mediator.
"Our members are vital to the waterway and its operation as a key shipping lane,” states Martin Mika, UCTE Regional Vice President for Ontario. “We are very close to achieving a fair deal and could resolve the situation quickly if the employer addresses our members issues to put an end to the strike.”
A strike vote was held in October with unanimous support to take strike action by the workers. We are urging Transport Canada to look into the state of negotiations and end this strike as soon as possible.
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Lino Vieira, Political Communications Officer, vieiral@psac-afpc.com or 416-577-0238
Lira Buschman, Communications & Special Projects, buschml@psac-afpc.com or 613-558-4003