CN Rail lifted its lockout and “invited” workers back to their jobs Wednesday night, one day before Parliamentary legislation to end the bitter labour dispute between the railroad and its union workforce represented by the United Transportation Union.
The labour dispute took another wild turn this week, when the membership of the UTU voted to reject their tentative deal with the railroad and returned to rotating picket lines. That decision to resume strike action, threatened to return the railway to the kind of occasional chaos that threatened wide sectors of the Canadian economy from Ontario auto plants, to prairie farmers and west coast ports.
With that threat in mind, the federal government then stepped in and brought in its prepared back to work legislation, which received Royal Assent on Wednesday and takes effect on Thursday night. The union has advised its workers to return to the job, while they continue to work on their behalf to address their concerns with Canada’s largest railroad.
Both CN and the UTU provided their take on the situation on their respective websites.
Showing posts with label CN Strike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CN Strike. Show all posts
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
CN Agreement goes off the rails
It may be back to the picket lines for members of the UTU, the union representing thousands of workers at Canadian National Railways.
The results of the vote on the labour agreement tentatively reached in February between CN and the UTU were released on Tuesday night with wide discrepancies in the vote total. Opinion 250 out of Prince George stated that it was rejected by close to 80%, while earlier reports from the mainstream media had the rejection vote total pegged at 67%.
Regardless it would seem that the terms of agreement did not meet with the membership's approval and we wait for the next shoe to drop in the dispute.
Late Tuesday night it was decided that rotating picket lines would be set up at selected locations across Canada by Wednesday morning.
Job action in February brought grain shipments from Prince Rupert's Grain Terminal to a standstill and caused a great degree of difficulty and concern not only in Canada's farm land, but in the industrial base of Ontario, where auto plants, chemical plants and other industrial users found supplies dry up and delivery schedules left in ruin.
At that time the Federal Government was poised to declare the strike not in the country's interest and went so far as to prepare to legislate the workers back to the job. Should there be a replay of the troubled days of that strike, it's expected that the government will be dusting off it's legislation and bringing it up in front of Parliament as soon as possible.
CN offered up its interpretation of the events on its website, while the UTU did much the same from their portal.
The major news sites all had stories on the decision and it's potential impact on the economy.
CTV News/Globe and Mail
CBC News
Canada.com
The results of the vote on the labour agreement tentatively reached in February between CN and the UTU were released on Tuesday night with wide discrepancies in the vote total. Opinion 250 out of Prince George stated that it was rejected by close to 80%, while earlier reports from the mainstream media had the rejection vote total pegged at 67%.
Regardless it would seem that the terms of agreement did not meet with the membership's approval and we wait for the next shoe to drop in the dispute.
Late Tuesday night it was decided that rotating picket lines would be set up at selected locations across Canada by Wednesday morning.
Job action in February brought grain shipments from Prince Rupert's Grain Terminal to a standstill and caused a great degree of difficulty and concern not only in Canada's farm land, but in the industrial base of Ontario, where auto plants, chemical plants and other industrial users found supplies dry up and delivery schedules left in ruin.
At that time the Federal Government was poised to declare the strike not in the country's interest and went so far as to prepare to legislate the workers back to the job. Should there be a replay of the troubled days of that strike, it's expected that the government will be dusting off it's legislation and bringing it up in front of Parliament as soon as possible.
CN offered up its interpretation of the events on its website, while the UTU did much the same from their portal.
The major news sites all had stories on the decision and it's potential impact on the economy.
CTV News/Globe and Mail
CBC News
Canada.com
Sunday, February 25, 2007
2800 CN employees asked to return to the job as tentative settlement reached
The fifteen day strike at the nation’s largest railway has come to an end as negotiators and officials reached a resolution to the dispute, with union officials urging their employees to return to work pending a ratification vote. That vote will be conducted starting Monday as union members receive a copy of the tentative agreement and a ballot which is expected to be returned and counted by the end of March.
On Friday, the Federal Government had introduced back to work legislation to bring an end to the dispute, debate and a vote on that was to commence on Monday in Ottawa. While no word has been provided from the government yet, it is hoped that the back to work legislation will be delayed pending the announcement of the results of the vote.
The strike has resulted in a large number of economic problems for many of Canada’s industries, most notably locally the state of the Prince Rupert Grain elevator which has seen a large volume of ships build up in the harbour, waiting for grain that has yet to arrive.
With the settlement of the strike and a return to a sense of normalcy, it’s hoped that that backlog will soon be reduced and a more reliable system of delivery can return.
The Globe and Mail covered the events leading up to the settlement and explains the process from here to get the trains back on time.
Deal reached to end CN Rail strike
Canadian Press
February 24, 2007
MONTREAL — CN and the United Transportation Union say they have reached a tentative deal to end a strike by 2,800 railway conductors and yard-service workers.
The union says it is maintaining its strike mandate but is urging its members to return to their jobs pending a ratification vote.
Results of the vote will not be available until near the end of March.
Union members will be mailed a copy of the tentative agreement along with a ballot on Monday, and they will have until March 26 to mail in their ballots. The ballots will be counted in Ottawa the same day.
"The 2,800 employees and members of the union, which are conductors and yard-service employees, remain on strike pending ratification," Mark Hallman, spokesman for CN management, told The Canadian Press late Saturday.
"We, at this time, continue to have management personnel filling in for striking UTU members, but, we do note that the union is urging its members to return to work during the ratification process and we're encouraged by that," said Hallman.
UTU spokesman Frank Wilner confirmed that the transit union would be encouraging its workers to return to work.
"We are asking our members to go back to work immediately," said Wilner.
CN continues to offer freight service with management personnel filling in for the strikers. Passenger and commuter train service have not been affected.
On Friday, the federal government tabled legislation ordering the striking employees back to work, warning of potential economic chaos from a walkout that has already hurt key industries.
Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn told the House of Commons that the strike couldn't be allowed to continue in the face of layoffs, backlogs and supply shortages throughout industry and in communities across the country.
MPs are scheduled to deal with the legislation this week.
Chief union negotiators John Armstrong and Robert Sharpe said in a release that they hope the union's call for workers to return to their jobs "will greatly reduce the possibility of the Canadian government continuing to move forward on back-to-work legislation until such time as the ratification process is completed and the results are known."Federal Labour Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.
On Friday, the Federal Government had introduced back to work legislation to bring an end to the dispute, debate and a vote on that was to commence on Monday in Ottawa. While no word has been provided from the government yet, it is hoped that the back to work legislation will be delayed pending the announcement of the results of the vote.
The strike has resulted in a large number of economic problems for many of Canada’s industries, most notably locally the state of the Prince Rupert Grain elevator which has seen a large volume of ships build up in the harbour, waiting for grain that has yet to arrive.
With the settlement of the strike and a return to a sense of normalcy, it’s hoped that that backlog will soon be reduced and a more reliable system of delivery can return.
The Globe and Mail covered the events leading up to the settlement and explains the process from here to get the trains back on time.
Deal reached to end CN Rail strike
Canadian Press
February 24, 2007
MONTREAL — CN and the United Transportation Union say they have reached a tentative deal to end a strike by 2,800 railway conductors and yard-service workers.
The union says it is maintaining its strike mandate but is urging its members to return to their jobs pending a ratification vote.
Results of the vote will not be available until near the end of March.
Union members will be mailed a copy of the tentative agreement along with a ballot on Monday, and they will have until March 26 to mail in their ballots. The ballots will be counted in Ottawa the same day.
"The 2,800 employees and members of the union, which are conductors and yard-service employees, remain on strike pending ratification," Mark Hallman, spokesman for CN management, told The Canadian Press late Saturday.
"We, at this time, continue to have management personnel filling in for striking UTU members, but, we do note that the union is urging its members to return to work during the ratification process and we're encouraged by that," said Hallman.
UTU spokesman Frank Wilner confirmed that the transit union would be encouraging its workers to return to work.
"We are asking our members to go back to work immediately," said Wilner.
CN continues to offer freight service with management personnel filling in for the strikers. Passenger and commuter train service have not been affected.
On Friday, the federal government tabled legislation ordering the striking employees back to work, warning of potential economic chaos from a walkout that has already hurt key industries.
Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn told the House of Commons that the strike couldn't be allowed to continue in the face of layoffs, backlogs and supply shortages throughout industry and in communities across the country.
MPs are scheduled to deal with the legislation this week.
Chief union negotiators John Armstrong and Robert Sharpe said in a release that they hope the union's call for workers to return to their jobs "will greatly reduce the possibility of the Canadian government continuing to move forward on back-to-work legislation until such time as the ratification process is completed and the results are known."Federal Labour Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.
Friday, February 23, 2007
With the economy off the rails, the Government looks to put CN workers back on them.
Citing “economic chaos”, the Conservative Government has introduced back to work legislation for CN workers currently on their fourteenth day on the picket lines. With Canada’s industrial giants, transportation companies and supplier groups all expressing frustration and concern for the country’s economic health, the government put forward its plans in the House of Commons today.
CN’s 2800 employees on strike are now involved in a nasty internal dispute between their Canadian local reps and the International leadership who were never in favour of the strike in the first place.
Earlier today, there were reports of some CN workers returning to work in the east while western union members remained on strike, union officials offered up a figure of 80 per cent for those members still on a picket line. The International leadership replaced the Canadian bargaining unit earlier this week and those negotiators suggest that a solution is in sight and that the legislated return to work won’t be needed.
However, with the economy starting show major fissures from the two week dispute, the Government intends to keep to its timetable which will have the motion up for a vote next week.
The Globe and Mail provided a helpful guide to the situation on its website today.
One person who won’t be voting for a back to work edict will be Nathan Cullen of the NDP and the Member of Parliament for BulkleyValley-Skeena. Cullen in the Daily news today objected to the measure, as he’s concerned about CN’s safety record and feels that the union is on strike as a reflection of CN’s lack of attention to matters of safety.
He outlined his thoughts on the situation in the Daily News on Friday.
CULLEN IS TO OPPOSE CN BACK TO WORK VOTE
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, February 23, 2007
Page one
Despite the $150,000-a-day in demurrage fees being paid by the Canadian Wheat Board and their suppliers while grain ships sit idle in Prince Rupert Harbour, Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen will not be supporting back-to-work legislation to end the rail strike.
The strike by the United Transportation Union, which is now entering it 13th day, has slowed CN Rail’s shipping across the country. In Prince Rupert, there are currently seven ships waiting to load grain and coal, the result of both poor rail performance during the past two months and strike action by the United Transportation Union. Five more ships are due in the next few days.
While Cullen admits that the strike has resulted in delays for mills in his riding that want to move their product to market and more than a million dollars in added costs for wheat producers, he believes the union has a number of legitimate safety concerns about the current CN Rail proposal.
“I have heard from some CN workers who say this is not about money for them, this is about safety,” said Cullen. “They’ve described what CN is proposing — to have them work almost twice as much and extend their hours into what I think is really dangerous territory.”
Cullen said if government steps in and breaks the strike, a threat being made by the Conservative Labour Minister (see story on page 2), it will result in an even worse safety record.
“(CN Rail’s) culture has changed fundamentally is the last four or five years as it has been taken over by American interests and there is very little interest in safety.”
A vote to legislate the UTU back to work is expected in the House some time next week.
Cullen said both the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois will oppose the legislation however the Liberals are keeping their cards close to their chests.
“I don’t know (what happens if the vote doesn’t get support) I doubt Mr. Harper would want to bring his government down on a rail strike, he might but I doubt,” said Cullen.
In the meantime, the NDP is supporting a private member’s bill that would ban replacement workers being employees, such as the ones CN Rail is using to keep some trains moving.
“There are a number of studies we have looked at ... it leads to more labour peace and more certainty for the employers,” said Cullen.
He added the NDP is investigating a number of complaints of breaches of the Transportation Safety Board rules because workers from the U.S. and management are allegedly operating trains “beyond the guidelines that are set out.”
CN’s 2800 employees on strike are now involved in a nasty internal dispute between their Canadian local reps and the International leadership who were never in favour of the strike in the first place.
Earlier today, there were reports of some CN workers returning to work in the east while western union members remained on strike, union officials offered up a figure of 80 per cent for those members still on a picket line. The International leadership replaced the Canadian bargaining unit earlier this week and those negotiators suggest that a solution is in sight and that the legislated return to work won’t be needed.
However, with the economy starting show major fissures from the two week dispute, the Government intends to keep to its timetable which will have the motion up for a vote next week.
The Globe and Mail provided a helpful guide to the situation on its website today.
One person who won’t be voting for a back to work edict will be Nathan Cullen of the NDP and the Member of Parliament for BulkleyValley-Skeena. Cullen in the Daily news today objected to the measure, as he’s concerned about CN’s safety record and feels that the union is on strike as a reflection of CN’s lack of attention to matters of safety.
He outlined his thoughts on the situation in the Daily News on Friday.
CULLEN IS TO OPPOSE CN BACK TO WORK VOTE
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, February 23, 2007
Page one
Despite the $150,000-a-day in demurrage fees being paid by the Canadian Wheat Board and their suppliers while grain ships sit idle in Prince Rupert Harbour, Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen will not be supporting back-to-work legislation to end the rail strike.
The strike by the United Transportation Union, which is now entering it 13th day, has slowed CN Rail’s shipping across the country. In Prince Rupert, there are currently seven ships waiting to load grain and coal, the result of both poor rail performance during the past two months and strike action by the United Transportation Union. Five more ships are due in the next few days.
While Cullen admits that the strike has resulted in delays for mills in his riding that want to move their product to market and more than a million dollars in added costs for wheat producers, he believes the union has a number of legitimate safety concerns about the current CN Rail proposal.
“I have heard from some CN workers who say this is not about money for them, this is about safety,” said Cullen. “They’ve described what CN is proposing — to have them work almost twice as much and extend their hours into what I think is really dangerous territory.”
Cullen said if government steps in and breaks the strike, a threat being made by the Conservative Labour Minister (see story on page 2), it will result in an even worse safety record.
“(CN Rail’s) culture has changed fundamentally is the last four or five years as it has been taken over by American interests and there is very little interest in safety.”
A vote to legislate the UTU back to work is expected in the House some time next week.
Cullen said both the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois will oppose the legislation however the Liberals are keeping their cards close to their chests.
“I don’t know (what happens if the vote doesn’t get support) I doubt Mr. Harper would want to bring his government down on a rail strike, he might but I doubt,” said Cullen.
In the meantime, the NDP is supporting a private member’s bill that would ban replacement workers being employees, such as the ones CN Rail is using to keep some trains moving.
“There are a number of studies we have looked at ... it leads to more labour peace and more certainty for the employers,” said Cullen.
He added the NDP is investigating a number of complaints of breaches of the Transportation Safety Board rules because workers from the U.S. and management are allegedly operating trains “beyond the guidelines that are set out.”
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
CN labour dispute causing harbor congestion in Prince Rupert
With a number of grain ships backing up on their loading schedule and problems of poor deliveries prior to the strike, the Prince Rupert Grain Elevator is looking at a recovery period of at least three to four weeks to get back on track, should the train problems get sorted out soon.
All of which does cause problems with reputations in world markets, so it would seem that the current case of congestion, is causing a bit of indigestion for the Wheat Board, the grain elevators and Canada’s reputation as a dependable provider of grains.
The Daily News provided some local interest to the current labour dispute at CN, with a front page story about the local reaction to the troubles being caused by the strike.
SHIPS PILE UP IN HARBOUR AS CN STRIKE CONTINUES
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Ships are turning the Prince Rupert harbour into a parking lot as the labour disagreement between CN and the United Transportation Union continues to exacerbate shipping delays.
The impact of the strike is being felt across the country, to the point where the federal Labour Minister yesterday proposed stepping in with a law ordering the 2,800 CN Rail employees back to their jobs.
“I contacted both parties to inform them that the situation couldn’t continue, that Canada’s economy is being severely affected ... that they only had a few hours left before parliament would act,” Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn told the House of Commons.
“Our legislation is ready.”
A government source said yesterday that the legislation could be up for a vote on Thursday.
Blackburn’s announcement, made on the brink of what company officials had hoped would be pivotal contract negotiations, came 11 days into the labour dispute.
Striking CN Rail workers rejected a company request to return to work voluntarily Tuesday and the B.C. Federation of Labour was set to rally in Vancouver today in support of the union’s cause.
In Prince Rupert, there are now seven grain tankers and one coal ship waiting to be loaded, with another five expected by the end of the week.
Jeff Burghardt, president of Prince Rupert Grain, said they are currently facing a three- to four-week backlog, caused by poor rail performance for the last 10 to 12 weeks and then exacerbated by the labour disruption
“For us, this is a very acute situation because we were hopeful we would be recovering over these last two weeks and cleaning up the clog of ships, but the strike is not a good opportunity for us to make that headway,” said Burghardt.
“I think that the railway is making a very good effort through the strike to continue to operate the railway, it’s just unfortunate when it comes at a time when we are already behind because of poor performance.”
It will take Prince Rupert Grain two to three weeks of improved rail service — with 1,400 rail cars per week coming through compared to the current 1,000 — to recover. Last week, the Canadian Wheat Board complained that member suppliers are paying about C$150,000 a day in demurrage (penalty) fees for the delays.
Burghardt said these fees, which will come home to overseas customers, will impact the country’s reputation.
“When these types of bills are having to be paid, overseas customers don’t necessarily take the time to understand who is responsible for their added costs. All they know is the Canadian system is letting them down right now and their patience for that sort of thing is running thin,” he said.
Burghardt said in the long run, it will be important for the union and company to work this out.
“It is important for all of us that the people who are working the system come to their own agreements and create more stability in their workforce through those types of methods rather than direct government intervention,” he said.
With files from CP
All of which does cause problems with reputations in world markets, so it would seem that the current case of congestion, is causing a bit of indigestion for the Wheat Board, the grain elevators and Canada’s reputation as a dependable provider of grains.
The Daily News provided some local interest to the current labour dispute at CN, with a front page story about the local reaction to the troubles being caused by the strike.
SHIPS PILE UP IN HARBOUR AS CN STRIKE CONTINUES
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Ships are turning the Prince Rupert harbour into a parking lot as the labour disagreement between CN and the United Transportation Union continues to exacerbate shipping delays.
The impact of the strike is being felt across the country, to the point where the federal Labour Minister yesterday proposed stepping in with a law ordering the 2,800 CN Rail employees back to their jobs.
“I contacted both parties to inform them that the situation couldn’t continue, that Canada’s economy is being severely affected ... that they only had a few hours left before parliament would act,” Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn told the House of Commons.
“Our legislation is ready.”
A government source said yesterday that the legislation could be up for a vote on Thursday.
Blackburn’s announcement, made on the brink of what company officials had hoped would be pivotal contract negotiations, came 11 days into the labour dispute.
Striking CN Rail workers rejected a company request to return to work voluntarily Tuesday and the B.C. Federation of Labour was set to rally in Vancouver today in support of the union’s cause.
In Prince Rupert, there are now seven grain tankers and one coal ship waiting to be loaded, with another five expected by the end of the week.
Jeff Burghardt, president of Prince Rupert Grain, said they are currently facing a three- to four-week backlog, caused by poor rail performance for the last 10 to 12 weeks and then exacerbated by the labour disruption
“For us, this is a very acute situation because we were hopeful we would be recovering over these last two weeks and cleaning up the clog of ships, but the strike is not a good opportunity for us to make that headway,” said Burghardt.
“I think that the railway is making a very good effort through the strike to continue to operate the railway, it’s just unfortunate when it comes at a time when we are already behind because of poor performance.”
It will take Prince Rupert Grain two to three weeks of improved rail service — with 1,400 rail cars per week coming through compared to the current 1,000 — to recover. Last week, the Canadian Wheat Board complained that member suppliers are paying about C$150,000 a day in demurrage (penalty) fees for the delays.
Burghardt said these fees, which will come home to overseas customers, will impact the country’s reputation.
“When these types of bills are having to be paid, overseas customers don’t necessarily take the time to understand who is responsible for their added costs. All they know is the Canadian system is letting them down right now and their patience for that sort of thing is running thin,” he said.
Burghardt said in the long run, it will be important for the union and company to work this out.
“It is important for all of us that the people who are working the system come to their own agreements and create more stability in their workforce through those types of methods rather than direct government intervention,” he said.
With files from CP
Rupert Grain terminal faces a backlog of 340,000 tonnes and counting
The labour dispute at CN has contributed a backlog of grain to be shipped through the Prince Rupert Grain terminal and as the strike enters its eleventh day, the prospect for even more delays is expected.
With the Industrial Relations Board ruling in favour of the union over the weekend, the ball is back in the court of the union and the railways to get together and hammer out an agreement. A process that is agonizingly slow and causing more than few problems for manufacturers and suppliers across the country.
Standing in the wings is the Federal Government which is exploring every option in order to bring the problem to a resolution. While not tipping their hand, it’s expected that possible back to work legislation will be brought forward, though the NDP has said that option is a non starter and the other opposition parties are keeping their cards close to the vest on the issue. Though one doubts that the opposition would force a federal election on the issue of a strike that is threatening to have a sever impact on the Canadian economy, that would be almost a gift to the Conservatives.
Monday found a number of news items available to put the situation in perspective, some of which we list below with links.
Bloomberg.com- Canada plans work order to end CN strike
Canada.com- Canada readies back to work law as CN refuses to end strike
CTV News- Ottawa to legislate CN union back to work
Globe and Mail-Ottawa readies back to work legislation to end CN strike
Toronto Star-Tories ready to end CN strike
Vancouver Sun-Meter running as grain ships wait out CN Strike
CBC News- CN Rail union rejects voluntary return to work
With the Industrial Relations Board ruling in favour of the union over the weekend, the ball is back in the court of the union and the railways to get together and hammer out an agreement. A process that is agonizingly slow and causing more than few problems for manufacturers and suppliers across the country.
Standing in the wings is the Federal Government which is exploring every option in order to bring the problem to a resolution. While not tipping their hand, it’s expected that possible back to work legislation will be brought forward, though the NDP has said that option is a non starter and the other opposition parties are keeping their cards close to the vest on the issue. Though one doubts that the opposition would force a federal election on the issue of a strike that is threatening to have a sever impact on the Canadian economy, that would be almost a gift to the Conservatives.
Monday found a number of news items available to put the situation in perspective, some of which we list below with links.
Bloomberg.com- Canada plans work order to end CN strike
Canada.com- Canada readies back to work law as CN refuses to end strike
CTV News- Ottawa to legislate CN union back to work
Globe and Mail-Ottawa readies back to work legislation to end CN strike
Toronto Star-Tories ready to end CN strike
Vancouver Sun-Meter running as grain ships wait out CN Strike
CBC News- CN Rail union rejects voluntary return to work
Monday, February 19, 2007
They’re still not working on the railroad!
Things are seemingly going to get worse before they get much better, when it comes to transporting goods across Canada on the rails of Canadian National.
The UTU, the Canadian branch of the union representing CN’s yard workers and conductors won its case with the Industrial Relations Board on Monday. CN had appealed to the Board to rule the job action as an illegal walkout, but the IRB saw things a little differently and ruled in favor of the Canadian union members. A decision that means that picket lines will remain up across Canada.
The UTU, the Canadian branch of the union representing CN’s yard workers and conductors won its case with the Industrial Relations Board on Monday. CN had appealed to the Board to rule the job action as an illegal walkout, but the IRB saw things a little differently and ruled in favor of the Canadian union members. A decision that means that picket lines will remain up across Canada.
The dispute is a three way situation, with the local Canadian branch of the union not only taking on the railroad, but having to deal with a head office that suspects their intentions in the dispute.
The labour dispute is having large ripple effects across the country, as CN struggles to keep the railway running with management personnel; a situation that seems a little harder than they first suggested when the strike began a week ago.
Since that time there has been a surge in the amount of industries that are claiming delivery and supply problems stemming from the walkout, a refrain that has the Federal Government now considering its options to try and get things including the freight back on the rails.
The Globe and Mail recapped the day’s events quite succinctly on its website Monday night.
The labour dispute is having large ripple effects across the country, as CN struggles to keep the railway running with management personnel; a situation that seems a little harder than they first suggested when the strike began a week ago.
Since that time there has been a surge in the amount of industries that are claiming delivery and supply problems stemming from the walkout, a refrain that has the Federal Government now considering its options to try and get things including the freight back on the rails.
The Globe and Mail recapped the day’s events quite succinctly on its website Monday night.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
CN labour dispute causing problems nation wide
The current labour dispute at CN Rail is having a major effect on some major Canadian industries as it heads into its second week. From grain shipments to the West Coast to Auto plants in Ontario, the wheels of industry are slowing down sending worrisome signs to business leaders.
The two sides have yet to return to the bargaining table, although there is expected to be another meeting of the Industrial Relations Board planned for Monday, part of a call from CN to declare the strike illegal.
Part of CN’s argument seems to be some friction between the Canadian local and the American head office, which some say was against job action from the start.
In fact, the American president is suggesting that strike is the preamble towards the Canadian workers joining the Teamsters and the Canadian president realizing a better job for himself.
These items can all be traced through the battle of the press releases from the UTU head office, the Canadian wing and of course CN's own public relations department.
Many business leaders have taken to calling on the Federal Government to step into the dispute, a call that so far has not been acted upon. The Government won’t make a move on the dispute while it is still involved with the Industrial Relations Board, so all eyes will be on those meetings next week to see where the next steps may lie.
While everyone bickers about the cause, the effect is becoming pretty obvious.
The chemical industry back east is calling the strike devastating for it, with numerous companies slowing down production because they can’t move their product out of the plants.
The auto industry, dependent on the concept of just in time delivery is in a bit of turmoil as the just in time aspect begins to suffer.
The lumber industry is being hit by a double whammy of poor markets and transportation problems; Canfor is planning on cutting production at a number of Interior mills.
Rival rail road CP has even been affected by the dispute, declaring a force majeure on some shipments to the Port of Vancouver, unable to meet delivery deadlines due to congestion at the port caused by the CN dispute, CP is taking the unusual step of stopping shipments of key products widely speculated as being potash and grain.
The strike has affected more than Canadian operations and could have a greater impact on the US economy as well, already reports of propane shortages in Maine have been attributed to the labour problems at CN and the auto industry will no doubt feel the effects in the large American plants as well.
In Prince Rupert of course, the main effect will be on production at the Grain Elevator at Prince Rupert Grain and on supplies of mineral inventories at Ridley Terminals. The Daily News covered the local angle in the Friday paper.
CN strike has grain ships stuck in harbour
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, February 16, 2007
Page one
More than half a dozen tankers are lining the waterfront in Prince Rupert waiting to be loaded because of delays caused by a labour disagreement between CN Rail and 2,300 members of United Transportation Union.
“Overall, the strike is having some impact on port operations to date,” said Barry Bartlett, Manager Corporate Communications and Public Affair for the Port of Prince Rupert. “We have ships in the harbour waiting for products to arrive by train, particularily grain products.”
According to the port’s Thursday vessel report, seven ships are waiting to load wheat or canola, with another three pending (two for wheat and one for coal.) In the past week, only one ship has loaded and left, the Catriena, which is headed for Sri Lanka with wheat.
“From our point of view, it is imperative CN quickly negotiates a settlement with the United Transportation Union and resume normal operations to Prince Rupert as soon as possible because there are a lot of people being affected by this,” he said.
According to the Canadian Wheat Board, the backlog of grain is compounded by January’s weather related transportation problems.
“This couldn’t come at a worse time because we were hoping the rails would get caught up in February,” said Maureen Fitzhenry, a spokesperson for the Canadian Wheat Board.
Member suppliers are paying about C$150,000 a day in demurrage (penalty) fees for the delays, she said.
A CN spokesperson acknowledged that the labour situation is not making the backlog any better.
“It’s been extremely cold on the prairies and we now have this strike by the UTU and these are challenges but we are doing our best with the resources we have,” said Mark Hallman, spokesperson for CN.
Jeff Burghardt, president of Prince Rupert Grain was unavailable for comment, however CN Rail says it is doing the best it can to keep the trains running on time.
“With the strike, we have management personnel filing in for the striking workers and we are doing the best we can with the resources we have available,” said Hallman.
“We are trying to protect, as best we can, all the core traffic across our system.”
UTU Canada represents 2,800 conductors and yard-service employees at CN in Canada. But hundreds of the workers remain on the job at the moment under an agreement sanctioned by the union.
The strike affects freight service, but not Via Rail or commuter traffic in Montreal and Toronto.
The Wheat Board has complained to the federal government that it has ships waiting on the B.C. coast to be filled with grain that is usually shipped by rail. However, Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl said the federal government won’t intervene while the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) is hearing the case. The CIRB will hear arguments from CN and the union about the legality of the walkout on Monday.
UTU International hasn’t approved the strike action taken by its Canadian affiliate and the company argues the strike by UTU Canada members is illegal without the proper sanction.
With files from CP
The two sides have yet to return to the bargaining table, although there is expected to be another meeting of the Industrial Relations Board planned for Monday, part of a call from CN to declare the strike illegal.
Part of CN’s argument seems to be some friction between the Canadian local and the American head office, which some say was against job action from the start.
In fact, the American president is suggesting that strike is the preamble towards the Canadian workers joining the Teamsters and the Canadian president realizing a better job for himself.
These items can all be traced through the battle of the press releases from the UTU head office, the Canadian wing and of course CN's own public relations department.
Many business leaders have taken to calling on the Federal Government to step into the dispute, a call that so far has not been acted upon. The Government won’t make a move on the dispute while it is still involved with the Industrial Relations Board, so all eyes will be on those meetings next week to see where the next steps may lie.
While everyone bickers about the cause, the effect is becoming pretty obvious.
The chemical industry back east is calling the strike devastating for it, with numerous companies slowing down production because they can’t move their product out of the plants.
The auto industry, dependent on the concept of just in time delivery is in a bit of turmoil as the just in time aspect begins to suffer.
The lumber industry is being hit by a double whammy of poor markets and transportation problems; Canfor is planning on cutting production at a number of Interior mills.
Rival rail road CP has even been affected by the dispute, declaring a force majeure on some shipments to the Port of Vancouver, unable to meet delivery deadlines due to congestion at the port caused by the CN dispute, CP is taking the unusual step of stopping shipments of key products widely speculated as being potash and grain.
The strike has affected more than Canadian operations and could have a greater impact on the US economy as well, already reports of propane shortages in Maine have been attributed to the labour problems at CN and the auto industry will no doubt feel the effects in the large American plants as well.
In Prince Rupert of course, the main effect will be on production at the Grain Elevator at Prince Rupert Grain and on supplies of mineral inventories at Ridley Terminals. The Daily News covered the local angle in the Friday paper.
CN strike has grain ships stuck in harbour
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, February 16, 2007
Page one
More than half a dozen tankers are lining the waterfront in Prince Rupert waiting to be loaded because of delays caused by a labour disagreement between CN Rail and 2,300 members of United Transportation Union.
“Overall, the strike is having some impact on port operations to date,” said Barry Bartlett, Manager Corporate Communications and Public Affair for the Port of Prince Rupert. “We have ships in the harbour waiting for products to arrive by train, particularily grain products.”
According to the port’s Thursday vessel report, seven ships are waiting to load wheat or canola, with another three pending (two for wheat and one for coal.) In the past week, only one ship has loaded and left, the Catriena, which is headed for Sri Lanka with wheat.
“From our point of view, it is imperative CN quickly negotiates a settlement with the United Transportation Union and resume normal operations to Prince Rupert as soon as possible because there are a lot of people being affected by this,” he said.
According to the Canadian Wheat Board, the backlog of grain is compounded by January’s weather related transportation problems.
“This couldn’t come at a worse time because we were hoping the rails would get caught up in February,” said Maureen Fitzhenry, a spokesperson for the Canadian Wheat Board.
Member suppliers are paying about C$150,000 a day in demurrage (penalty) fees for the delays, she said.
A CN spokesperson acknowledged that the labour situation is not making the backlog any better.
“It’s been extremely cold on the prairies and we now have this strike by the UTU and these are challenges but we are doing our best with the resources we have,” said Mark Hallman, spokesperson for CN.
Jeff Burghardt, president of Prince Rupert Grain was unavailable for comment, however CN Rail says it is doing the best it can to keep the trains running on time.
“With the strike, we have management personnel filing in for the striking workers and we are doing the best we can with the resources we have available,” said Hallman.
“We are trying to protect, as best we can, all the core traffic across our system.”
UTU Canada represents 2,800 conductors and yard-service employees at CN in Canada. But hundreds of the workers remain on the job at the moment under an agreement sanctioned by the union.
The strike affects freight service, but not Via Rail or commuter traffic in Montreal and Toronto.
The Wheat Board has complained to the federal government that it has ships waiting on the B.C. coast to be filled with grain that is usually shipped by rail. However, Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl said the federal government won’t intervene while the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) is hearing the case. The CIRB will hear arguments from CN and the union about the legality of the walkout on Monday.
UTU International hasn’t approved the strike action taken by its Canadian affiliate and the company argues the strike by UTU Canada members is illegal without the proper sanction.
With files from CP
Sunday, February 11, 2007
“I was talking to Prince Rupert, and they’re very concerned.”
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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