Possible strike/lockout looming in Canada...
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/19/business/canada-rail-strike/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/19/business/canada-rail-strike/index.html
U.S. railroad operator Union Pacific has warned that a potential rail strike in Canada will have "devastating consequences" on the North American economy.
I think most people would agree with you. Some blame has to go to the railroad management who were dumb enough to sign contracts with the same expiry - the first time this has happened in Canadian history. Like no one noticed and saw a potential problem?Call me crazy but it almost seems like there should be a law or regulation that either prevents both class one railroads from engaging in simultaneous nationwide strikes/lockouts or that fast tracks immediate third party arbitration if and when simultaneous nationwide strikes/lockouts do occur.
On the other hand, if trucks manage to keep the nation moving, the rail’s stand to lose their relevance in essential transportation…
The shutdown demonstrated how closely linked Canada and the United States’ economies are, with many industries depending on the free movement of goods across the border for their efficient operations. About 30% of the freight carried by the two railroads cross the US-Canadian border, and without rail operations there is not nearly enough truck capacity to move the goods.
Quote from CBC article, linked below, is attributed to Minister of Labour Steve McKinnon."I have also directed the board to extend the term of the current collective agreements until new agreements have been signed, and for operations on both railways to resume forthwith," he said.
The commuter rail lines affected were those on tracks owned by CPKC. This included 3 Montreal area routes, the Vancouver service and one Toronto GO line (Milton) plus GO's downtown Hamilton station. In the case of the Toronto area operations almost all the affected passengers would have had another option within a 15 minute drive since all other GO services were normal. This is in sharp contrast to the fear-mongering by the news media and headlines like "Commuter Chaos" featured on supper-hour newscasts.The news report I saw (via "The Flyover" email newsletter) claimed that commuter rail had been impacted by the strike/lockout. If this is so, would the commuter rail referred to in the news report include VIA Corridor Service trains? Or perhaps just municipal commuter rail service in some of the large cities? (Like whatever might be comparable to Metra in Chicago.)
The commuter trains that were affected were those on CP. Those on lines dispatched by CN continued to run. Vancouver's West Coast Express between Vancouver and Mission halted. One line in Toronto hosted on CP, was halted, most of the extensive GO Transit/Metrolinx rail network is on CN (though I understand Metrolinx may have assumed ownership and control of some lines). The EXO lines serving Lucien L'Allier in Montreal, since those are on CP.The news report I saw (via "The Flyover" email newsletter) claimed that commuter rail had been impacted by the strike/lockout. If this is so, would the commuter rail referred to in the news report include VIA Corridor Service trains? Or perhaps just municipal commuter rail service in some of the large cities? (Like whatever might be comparable to Metra in Chicago.)
If the strike against CPKC continues, I imagine that today's eastbound Canadian from Vancouver will stay on CN in the directional running in BC's Fraser and Thompson canyons.However, the strike continues at CPKC with the passenger impacts noted above.
Yeah, forgot about that, although there had been some all-CN running there recently due to some combination of track work, landslide, flooding or similar. No one has updated that recently.If the strike against CPKC continues, I imagine that today's eastbound Canadian from Vancouver will stay on CN in the directional running in BC's Fraser and Thompson canyons.
The speed things like that move might suggest early next week before a resolution at CPKC.CPKC said it was prepared to discuss the resumption of service at the meeting with the CIRB, but the union refused and wants to make submissions to challenge the constitutionality of MacKinnon's direction.
CPKC said it was unable to resume service because the union “refused to discuss any resumption of service, and instead indicated that they wish to make submissions to challenge the constitutionality of the Minister’s direction.”
CN railway workers have issued a strike notice for Monday morning pushing back against attempts by the Liberal government to bring the massive shutdown of the country’s rail system to an end.
Sounds like the Lawyers have the Meter running! Pop plenty of Popcorn!
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