The Saskatchewan government, agriculture and mining leaders are calling on Ottawa to address strike action taken by Canadian National Railway employees.
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference announced the work stoppage Monday night after failing to reach a deal with CN by the midnight deadline.
Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit was among the provincial ministers who signed a letter to the federal government Monday.
They asked Ottawa to “act expediently,” stressing the harmful impacts a labour disruption could have on the economy.
“If we don’t see a quick resolve we will be engaging with the minister as soon as possible, either through telephone conversations or personal face-to-face meetings,” Marit said Tuesday.
The federal government has urged CN Rail and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference to continue negotiating. Labour Minister Patty Hajdu said Tuesday the government is concerned about the impact of a work stoppage on Canadians, but remains hopeful the two sides will reach an agreement.
Disruption could add to Sask. wheat woes
Harvey Brooks, general manager of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, told Global News he’s concerned how this will affect grain buying at a high-priced time of year.
“(Wheat farmers) went through a season where they invested in the production of their crop, they had a very difficult harvest and, in addition, many had to dry it and many didn’t even get the whole crop off,” Brooks said.
“Now they are looking for money to pay their bills and they need handling and transportation capacity in order to make those sales to the grain companies.”
Brooks said he expects grain companies will be reluctant to make any new purchases until there’s certainty around rail transportation services.
Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president Todd Lewis said Tuesday these delays will disrupt the remainder of winter shipping, which already experiences delays due to weather.
“Farmers are innocent bystanders in this labour dispute,” Lewis said. “We have ships waiting at Canadian ports to load grain and we need our government to take all measures necessary to ensure that products can move.”
The Saskatchewan mining industry is also monitoring the situation closely. In an email statement, potash exporter Canpotex told Global News it relies heavily on CN rail to move product to their terminal in Vancouver.
“We’re concerned about any disruption to our shipments,” the statement read. “We hoped to see a speedy negotiated settlement. Now that we are in a strike, we expect the government of Canada to act quickly to protect Canada’s potash exports.”
Rail workers asking for ‘improved life balance’
Around 3,200 conductors, trainpersons and yard workers went to the picket lines late Monday evening.
The workers, who have been without a contract since July 23, said they’re concerned about long hours, fatigue and what they consider dangerous working conditions. The dispute comes as CN confirmed Friday it was cutting jobs across the railway as it deals with a weakening North American economy that has eroded demand.
In Saskatoon on Tuesday, dozens of workers barred semi-trucks from entering the CN Yard office grounds on Chappelle Drive.
In Regina, a group of seven workers walked the picket line on Arthur Street, including Teamsters Local 69 president David Dobrowolski.
“Members on this picket line today are on strike for an improved life balance and not wage increases,” he said.
“Some of the issues we deal with on a daily basis are fatigue, ever-changing train line-ups, long hours — up to 12 hours a shift, and unpredictability of when we will be called for service.”
A conductor, Dobrowolski said there are always CN employees on the clock, every day of the year, with shifts lasting up to 12 hours.
He said currently, shift changes can occur with at least two hours’ notice. The local president added that concerns are mounting as CN looks to cut more jobs, which would lead to longer working hours, shorter rest periods and reductions to crew sizes.
“Fatigue has been a longstanding concern for railway workers. Unfortunately, despite the attention rail fatigue over the last 30 years … significant improvements remain to be made,” he said.
-With files from The Canadian Press.
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