St. Lawrence Seaway Strike Paralyzes Shipping Traffic

A labor strike by 360 unionized employees has shut down the St. Lawrence Seaway navigation system, halting cargo shipments between Great Lakes ports and the rest of the world. The strike was initiated after the union and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation failed to reach an agreement on wage increases. The closure of the seaway, which consists of locks, channels, and canals, has disrupted trade between inland North American ports and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Seaway management has sought non-union employees to move vessels shipping grain through the system, while the union remains open to discussion.