Algoma Reaches Deal with Union, Strike Ends
Image Courtesy: AlgomaOntario-based Algoma Central Corporation has reached a tentative agreement with the navigation and engineering officers at Algoma Tankers Limited, thereby ending a strike that began on October 21.
Vessels tied up as a result of the strike will commence operations as soon as arrangements are made to return the crews to the ships, the company informed.
Canadian Merchant Services Guild represents 54 employees of the company’s domestic product tanker fleet.
Algoma Tankers Limited previously operated two foreign tankers carrying cargo in Canadian waters, both of which were crewed by foreign workers.
Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU Canada) earlier urged the company to “cease illegal strike breaking” as Algoma Tankers Limited temporarily employed foreign workers in Canada, thereby conflicting the Temporary Foreign Worker Program rules which state that foreign workers cannot be used to replace striking Canadian workers.
In its financial report for 2016, the company said that navigation and engineering officers are represented by six separate bargaining units of the Guild. Four of these agreements expired on May 31, 2016, and two other agreements on July 31, 2016.
