The Chair of the Western Wheat Growers Association says preventing a national rail strike needs to be the federal government’s number one priority, as job action would be very concerning news for grain companies and farmers in advance of the 2024 harvest.
Daryl Fransoo is reacting to a decision by the Canada Industrial Relations Board that paves the way for a potential work stoppage at both CN Rail and CPKC Rail. The C.I.R.B. ruling stated a strike would not pose a danger to the public health of safety of Canadians. It imposed a 13-day cooling off period, which means a strike could begin as early as August 22nd.
Fransoo is urging Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to use all the tools at his disposal to prevent a potential labor disruption, which would cripple the national economy.
“I spoke with him about a week ago. He had some urgency in his voice, so I hope he continues down this road and gets this done before we get to that point.” He adds that “ministers do have tools at their disposal. Unfortunately, Minister O’Regan, during the last port strike, did use some of those, he just took too long. Hopefully Minister MacKinnon can use that same motto, but have a lot more urgency to it. When you’ve got something that’s going to shut down the entire Canadian economy, I hope that’s the most important fire on their desks right now.”
Contract negotiations between CN Rail, CPKC Rail and the Teamster’s Union have been dragging on for many months. Fransoo hopes a deadline will create a sense of urgency during upcoming contract negotiations.
“There should have been urgency from day one, but now there absolutely has to be. We know there’s probably going to be a strike on the 22nd, unless Minister MacKinnon really puts the screws to the unions and the railroad, and that’s what we’re asking. Use everything at your disposal to get something done. Concurrent strike or sequential strike of both railways will absolutely devastate the ag industry right at our harvest time, the peak shipping time.”
Railway and union negotiators have been meeting this week and those discussions are expected to continue next week as well.
