The above is a quote from a story in the Winnipeg Free Press about the now two day old strike at CN Rail. The Canadian Wheat Board is expressing its concerns over the labour dispute.
CN is operating the trains with management personnel and have vowed to keep the trains moving, but the Wheat Board suggests that delays and cancelled trains will be an eventuality as the strike continues.
CN has approached the Industrial Relations Board to declare the strike an illegal walkout and force the union to return the workforce back to the job.
The CBC is reporting that a hearing will be held in Montreal on Tuesday, to address the issue.
The outcome of the situation will have a huge influence on the fortunes of the Port of Prince Rupert.
West Coast ports already have a backlog of ships waiting for loading at the Vancouver and Prince Rupert terminals; a labour dispute will most likely cause that situation to increase over the next while.
CN conductors strike Wheat board head fears impact on grain
By Nick Martin
By Nick Martin
Sunday, February 11, 2007
A sudden strike by Canadian National Railway conductors and yard-service workers could hurt Canada’s grain producers, Canadian Wheat Board president and CEO Greg Arason said Saturday.
A sudden strike by Canadian National Railway conductors and yard-service workers could hurt Canada’s grain producers, Canadian Wheat Board president and CEO Greg Arason said Saturday.
“I expect that there will be some delays, and some trains that won’t make it,” Arason said. “It’s definitely a major concern for us.
“We have been in a backlog situation with shipments to the west coast. We already have ships waiting, and this will make it worse,” added Winnipeg-based Arasonfrom Vancouver, just before boarding a flight to head a trade mission to China.
Approximately 2,800 members of the United Transportation Union employed by CN walked off the job early Saturday after negotiations in Montreal broke down, Canadian Press reported.
Rail delays caused by cold weather on the Prairies and heavy snow in the Rockies in recent weeks have left the CWB backlogged by about 2,000 rail cars, the news agency reported.
That has created delays at ports in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, B.C., which have 10 vessels waiting to receive grain.
“I was talking to Prince Rupert, and they’re very concerned,” Arason said. “We will be advising the government that this is a serious situation, and needs to be addressed.
“We have to rely on rail to get it to the west coast.” he said.
The board is the sole marketing agency for 85,000 western Canadian farmers who grow barley and wheat for export or human consumption in Canada.
There are 223 railway employees on strike in Manitoba, with the majority in Winnipeg, CN spokesman Jim Feeny said Saturday.
The railway is talking to all its customers, but cannot make any promises or assurances specifically to the wheat board and grain producers, he said.
CN has asked the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to meet this weekend and order an end to the strike, which the company contends has not been authorized by the union’s certified bargaining agent, said Feeny.
“(Friday) night we began putting management personnel on trains and in the switching yards,” said Feeny. “We had a very comprehensive strike plan. We have the resources and the resolve” to keep the trains running.
Feeny said some grain is moved in 100-car freight trains, other grain is shipped along with cars containing a wide variety of cargo.
“The bottom line is this could cost farmers money and exacerbate what’s already a serious situation on the West Coast,” said board spokeswoman Maureen Fitzhenry.
“In addition, whenever there’s significant delays in getting grain shipments to customers, there’s always a risk that might end up damaging your reputation and sales in the future.”
CN reported that while the union admitted that while its international president has not provided authorization, it does not affect the legality of the strike.
Rex Beatty, the union’s chief negotiator, told Canadian Press that “Any declaration of whether a strike is illegal or not illegal rests with the Canada Industrial Relations Board, not with CN.
“We have complied with the provisions of the code and therefore the strike is legal,” Beatty said.
CN revenues, which totalled $7.2 billion in 2005, come from the movement of goods including petroleum and chemicals, grain and fertilizers, coal, metals and minerals, and forest and automotive products, according to its website.
CN revenues, which totalled $7.2 billion in 2005, come from the movement of goods including petroleum and chemicals, grain and fertilizers, coal, metals and minerals, and forest and automotive products, according to its website.
Via Rail Canada issued a statement Friday saying it did not expect any disruptions to its passenger train operations in the event of a strike, as all personnel are Via Rail employees.
- with files from Canadian Press
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