Ottawa-A country-wide shutdown of rail services could happen during May if CN and CPKC cannot reach contracts with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), says Marc Brazeau, President & CEO of the Railway Association of Canada.

The two railways are negotiating labour agreements with the TCRC, which represents about 9,000 conductors and locomotive engineers at both companies, Brazeau said. CPKC is also negotiating with the TCRC, which represents about 80 rail traffic controllers.

“Should negotiated outcomes not be achieved, this could mean a Canada-wide rail service disruption as early as the week of May 21,” Brazeau said. “After years of disruption caused by a pandemic, natural disasters, other labour disruptions and political events both in Canada and around the world, North American supply chains – of which the railways are a key part – require stability and predictability. As a trading nation, an efficient and reliable transportation network is key to Canada’s economic growth and global competitiveness.”

TCRC said it has begun the strike vote among its members by emailing ballots to them that are to be returned via e-mail. There was no indication of when results might be available.

Brazeau said the railways carry $380 billion worth of goods annually including half of Canada’s exports. “Thousands of businesses and communities rely on the rail network for their survival and prosperity. Should the railways stop operating – even for one day – economic trade will be impacted. Canada’s global competitiveness will be impacted. Commuter and intercity passenger rail will be impacted.

“While we can quantify the value of products and commodities whose movement will be stalled, there will be a much broader and deeper commercial impact should this labour disruption occur.”

Teamsters Canada president Francois Laporte has said in a news release that the contract demands of the two railways are non-negotiable. “CN and CPKC aim to eliminate all safety-critical rest provisions from our collective agreements. These provisions are necessary to combat crew fatigue and ensure public safety.”

Labour Canada has appointed conciliator officers for both the CN and CPKC negotiations.

Brazeau asked for anyone who might be affected by a strike to send any comments on a possible supply chain disruption in the Canadian economy or supply chain to [email protected].

Of specific interest is the possible impact of a strike could have in terms of traffic volumes, trade disruption or dollars or jobs lost per day/week. As well, RAC wants information on rail freight railway service that could halted by a strike and what critical product movement could be interrupted and the resulting impact that it would have on the customer or market?

This news item was prepared for National Newswatch