Agricultural shippers who depend on Canadian National Railway are breathing a sigh of relief this week after the company signed a last-minute deal with one of its unions to avert a strike.
However, Canadian Pacific Railway continues to face the potential of a strike by employees who inspect and repair rail cars and locomotives as early as Feb. 8.
Farmers welcomed the CN deal.
“That’s good news because even though the railways say they will keep service running, we usually see delays at inland terminals when these things happen,” said Grain Growers of Canada president Stephen Vandervalk.
Read Also
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development lauds Canada’s low farm subsidies, criticizes supply management
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development lauded Canada’s low farm subsidies, criticized supply management in its global survey of farm support programs.
“We’re already way behind, particularly on wheat board grains. We haven’t even finished shipping last year’s crop. It’s ridiculous.”
Maureen Fitzhenry, media relations manager with the Canadian Wheat Board, said the CN deal is positive.
“We are just pleased that the parties have reached a tentative agreement because of the importance of keeping grain moving to ports on sched-
ule to fulfill the sales contracts of prairie farmers’ valued export customers.”
Almost 4,000 members of the Canadian Auto Workers were prepared to walk out at 1 a.m. Jan. 25. The strike was called off when a tentative deal was signed early Jan. 24.
Details will not be published until union members vote, likely before the end of February. Meanwhile, the trains will keep running.
CN, in a statement announcing the deal, said it was good for both sides.
“The agreements would, upon ratification, provide fair wage and benefit increases to CAW members,” it said. “In addition, the settlements contain progressive provisions that would help CN retain and attract skilled employees critical to its workforce in the years ahead.”
The CAW represents mechanical and clerical workers and excavator operators and owner-operator truck drivers at CN.
Meanwhile, CPR is promising it will keep the trains running if a strike occurs. It said 1,200 managers have been trained to do the inspection and repair work necessary during a work stoppage.
However, it notes negotiations continue with the CAW.
“The company remains optimistic for a negotiated settlement.”
