AUGUST 2024 5 Once upon a time, the only type of strikes people liked to hear about were those that involving gold or some other precious metal being found, bowling pins tumbling to the polished wood floor in an alley, and the pounding of a certain spike as a fastener to affix the railway track against the railway bed. Unfortunately, with an initial vote held on May 1, 2024, teamsters at both the Canadian National Railway Company (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC) have voted to authorize strikes at their particular railroads should the necessity arise. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) announced that nearly 10,000 workers at the two railroad businesses could have incurred a work stoppage as early as May 22, 2024, unless an agreement was reached between each other. As of July 26, 204—no legal strike action has yet been undertaken. At this initial strike vote held in May, CN’s conductors, locomotive engineers, and yard workers voted 97.6 percent to authorize a strike, with a 93.3 percent turnout of eligible dues-paying teamsters. At CPKC, conductors, locomotive engineers, and yard workers voted 99 percent to authorize a strike, with a 91.7 percent turnout. Rail traffic controllers at the railroad voted 95.3 percent to authorize a strike, with a 96.6 percent turnout. “After six months of negotiations with both companies, we are no closer to reaching a settlement than when we first began. Both companies are trying to strip our collective agreements of safety-critical rest provisions. We are at an impasse, with the companies failing to understand that the Teamsters will never compromise on safety or bargain with Canadian lives,” commented Paul Boucher, President of the TCRC, within a press release released after the initial strikle vote. “A simultaneous work stoppage at both CN and CPKC would disrupt supply chains on a scale Canada has likely never experienced. I would like to make it very clear that provoking a crisis on that scale has not been and never will be our goal. The reality is that we would very much like to avoid a work stoppage. With these results, we intend to go back to the bargaining table, work with federal mediators, and do everything in our power to reach a fair deal for our members—a deal that does not compromise on safety or put profits over people,” added Boucher. With over 125,000 members, Teamsters Canada is the country’s largest transportation and supply chain union. It’s also the largest union in the federally regulated private sector. They are affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents over 1.2 million workers in North America. But what does it all mean? Is it really possible that we could be part of a complete disruption of the global supply chain? Again. If it’s not the railroads, it’s been dock workers. Again, we understand and respect the right to negotiate fair wages and a safe work environment, et al. CPKC has said that they certainly don’t want a work stoppage and are focused on reaching a balanced and responsible agreement through the collective bargaining process. The worrying issue for consumers— and the ag industry—however, is that should the sides remain apart, just when will a strike be called? As of July 26, 2024, nothing has been resolved between the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and the CN and CPKC railroads except that they agree to disagree. A TCRC proposal was rejected by both the CN and CPKC railroads. VOTING FOR A RAIL STRIKE Up to 10,000 CN and CPKC railway workers vote to strike. Andrew Joseph, Editor RAIL TRANSPORTATION Regardless of the weather conditions, rail workers are out doing their job to keep the railroad lines running safely. Stock Photos & Video/stock.adobe.com
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