The Canada Industrial Relations Board gave the Unifor union five days to respond to the request of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), which wants to obtain an exemption from the strike for the transport of grain.
The indefinite strike by locals of the Unifor union in Quebec and Ontario is in its third day, Tuesday, at the St. Lawrence Seaway. The conflict has paralyzed the transport of goods and bulk in this strategic axis since the night of Saturday to Sunday.
From the start of the strike, the CGVMSL had requested that the transport of grain be exempted from the strike. To do this, she invoked a little-known section of the Canada Labor Code which refers to activities related to the mooring and unpacking of grain ships.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board, which is a federal labor tribunal, said it had given Unifor five days to respond in writing to the employer’s request.
Then, the employer will in turn have a period of five days to respond in writing to Unifor.
Subsequently, the Canadian Council will decide whether a hearing is necessary in this matter, he said.