The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) has joined the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) in calling on the federal government to use “every tool in its toolkit” to prevent unprecedented strikes and lockouts at both of Canada’s national railways.
But their appeals may be falling on deaf ears, as federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon today made it clear his government will not intervene.
Thousands of unionized workers with both Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (TSX:CP) could be on the picket lines on Thursday, bringing all freight rail traffic in Canada – and the Canadian economy -- to a grinding halt.
Last week, CPKC gave its Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) workers notice that they will be locked out as of August 22, unless they could break an impasse in bargaining.
On Sunday, CN followed suit, issuing a lockout warning to the TCRC and announcing a planned shutdown of rail service. CN has already begun implementing embargoes on the movement of goods, in anticipation of a system-wide shutdown.
A phased shutdown of the networks at both CN and CPKC is already underway, according to Canadian Press.
“Unless there is an immediate and definite resolution to the labour conflict, CN will have no choice but to continue the phased and progressive shutdown of its network which would culminate in a lockout,” CN said in a bulletin Sunday.
The CFIB says a freight rail strike at both CN and CPKC would be “devastating” for Canadian small businesses.
GVBOT CEO Bridgitte Anderson joined the CFIB today in calling on the federal government to pull out all the stops to prevent Canada’s supply chain from being paralyzed. She noted the strike would have an impact on the West Coast Express -- a commuter train service that runs between Vancouver Waterfront station and Mission.
"West Coast Express may not operate starting Aug. 22 if a lockout occurs due to a labour dispute between CPKC and their union," TransLink notes in its traveller alerts.
“A full work stoppage on our rail system would leave Canadians with fewer access to goods and products, driving up prices, and worsening the affordability crisis,” Anderson said. “Every facet of daily life would be impacted as our national economy grinds to a halt and workers across a wide variety of sectors are affected.
“A work stoppage would be devastating for businesses across British Columbia, especially small businesses, as they are most vulnerable to delays and shortages. Furthermore, congestion in the Greater Vancouver region would significantly worsen as a shutdown of the rail system would prevent the West Coast Express from running.
“The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade calls on the federal government to intervene and do everything within its power to avoid a strike, including the use of binding arbitration and any other method needed to get a sustainable and fair deal.”
“Our reputation as a reliable trading partner, already fragile after the strikes in our Western ports last summer, appears poised to take another costly hit.”
In a issued today, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon made it clear his government will not intervene.
"These collective bargaining negotiations belong to CN Rail, CPKC and TCRC workers alone -- but their effects will be borne by all Canadians," he wrote in a statement posted on X.
"The parties must do the hard work necessary to reach agreements at the bargaining table and prevent a full work stoppage."
-- files from Canadian Press
