TORONTO (AP) — Freight trains in Canada could be running again within days, after the government forced the country’s two major railroads to mediate with their union on Thursday, aiming to avoid Potential adverse economic consequences If trains are sidelined for long periods across the country and in the US.
The government’s move came more than 16 hours after Canadian National and CPKC kicked out workers due to a labor contract impasse. Both the railways said that steps will be taken to resume the trains as soon as possible.
The union, which represents 10,000 engineers, conductors and dispatchers, reacted angrily to the order, accusing the railroads of deliberately creating a crisis to force the government to intervene. It also said it would keep its picket lines while reviewing the decision.
The government ordered the railroads to mediate with the Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference to end the lockout. Thursday started at 12:01 p.m After both parties are unable to resolve the contractual conflict.
Labor Minister Steven McKinnon announced the decision to order the jury at a news conference on Thursday. McKinnon said he expects trains to be running again within days. Ending the lockdowns is the first step.
The arbitration process is moving quickly with the railroads meeting with the CIRB on Thursday night, a person familiar with the schedule said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it.
Throughout the day Thursday, talks between the two sides ended in a stalemate, with workers striking outside and business groups urging the government to force mediation.
Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference, criticized the government’s decision to act so quickly.
“The two largest railways in Canada created this crisis, holding the country hostage and manipulating the government to once again ignore the rights afforded to working-class Canadians,” Boucher said. “The Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference (TCRC) is deeply disappointed by this shameful decision.”
Railway companies hailed the decision saying the government had no choice.
“The Canadian government recognizes the enormous consequences of a rail strike for the Canadian economy, North American supply chains and all Canadians,” said CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel. “The government has acted to protect Canada’s national interest. Because we fundamentally believe in and value collective bargaining, we regret that the government has had to intervene; However, if all concerned are given a stake, this situation calls for action.”
MacKinnon said the government wanted to give the talks every chance to succeed, but ultimately the economic risk was too great to allow the shutdowns to continue. He declined to instruct a jury a week ago.
“Canada’s economy cannot afford to wait for an agreement that has been delayed for too long and there is fundamental disagreement between the parties,” he said.
Almost all of Canada’s cargo is handled by rail — worth more than $1 billion Canadian (US$730 million) a day and adding up to more than 375 million tonnes last year — with rail shipments crossing the U.S. border halted on Thursday. About 30,000 passengers in Canada are also affected because their trains use CPKC’s routes. CPKC and CN’s trains continued to run in the US and Mexico during the lockout.
AP reporter Donna Warder A contract dispute involving Canada’s two major freight railroads could have significant economic consequences for Canada and the United States.
Many companies and industries in both countries rely on railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products, so they were worried about the crisis without regular train service. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, billions of dollars in goods move between Canada and the United States by rail each month.
For fear of offending unions and the left-wing NDP, on which his government relies for support to stay in power, Trudeau decided not to force the parties into binding arbitration before the deadline, but ultimately decided he had no choice.
“Collective bargaining is always the best way forward. When that is no longer a foreseeable option — when we face dire consequences for our supply chains and the workers who depend on them — governments must act,” Trudeau said.
Most businesses can keep enough materials on hand and in room to store finished products to withstand a brief disruption. But ports and other railroads quickly become clogged with cargo shipments that Canadian National and CPKC do not pick up.
Edward Jones analyst Jeff Windau said many companies made supply chain changes after the COVID-19 pandemic to help them withstand shorter disruptions. He said that the real problem starts only when it drags on.
Earlier Canadian rail stops lasted only a day or two and usually involved only one of the major railroads, but some extended to eight or nine days. This time the damage has increased as both the railway lines have been stopped.
“They’re very integrated and tied to the economy,” Windau said. “The breadth of things they’re hauling. … Ultimately, I think we need the rails to keep running.”
Chemical businesses and food distributors will be the first to be affected. Railroads stopped accepting new shipments of hazardous materials and perishables as they were phased out last week, but most chemical plants said they would be OK for another week.
The auto sector could also quickly see problems, with significant cross-border deliveries of engines, parts and finished vehicles relying on just-in-time shipments. Flavio Volpe, president of the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association, posted in X that nearly four out of every five cars manufactured in Canada are exported to the United States by rail. He said a prolonged shutdown could result in temporary work stoppages similar to the impact of the five-day 2022 Ambassador Bridge blockade.
More than 30,000 commuters in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal felt the pain of the lockdowns firsthand, and could be stuck on the bus again on Friday. CPKC dispatchers cannot run their passenger trains during the lockdown.
CN has been negotiating with the Teamsters for nine months, while CPKC has been trying to reach an agreement for a year, the union said.
Canadian negotiations have been bogged down by concerns about the way rail workers are scheduled and rules designed to prevent fatigue, as well as issues related to providing train workers with adequate rest. Both railroads have proposed moving away from the existing system to an hourly system that pays workers based on miles traveled, which they say will make it easier to provide predictable hours. The union said it did not want to lose hard-fought fatigue protections.
The railways said the hikes are in line with recent deals in the industry and include their contractual concessions. Engineers already earn about $150,000 a year at Canadian National, while conductors earn $120,000, and CPKC says its pay is comparable.
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Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writer Amir Madani in Buellton, California, contributed to this report.
