“Alberta’s government is calling on the federal government to take immediate action to address potential labour disruptions at Canada’s two largest railways, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC) and Canadian National Railway (CN). This strike could happen as early as August 22.
“If negotiation agreements between each of the railways and workers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference cannot be reached and workers are locked out, work stoppages at the railways will effectively shut down Canada’s rail network and vital supply chains.”
Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade
“The disruption to Class 1 railways would have far-reaching impacts, especially considering Canada Industrial Relation Board’s ruling that CPKC and CN would not be required to maintain some services during a work stoppage. This will disrupt supply chains, reduce hours and wages for workers across Canada and drastically impact the Canadian economy.
“The federal government has created a labour crisis in Canada. First the British Columbia ports, then WestJet, now the railways. It is one strike after another. These continuous strikes are eroding Canada’s reputation around the world as a reliable trading partner. The federal government must fix the labour problems it has created and exercise its responsibility to ensure labour stability within federally regulated transportation workplaces.
“The federal government has existing tools designed to ensure industrial peace. It is essential that the federal ministers act to avoid work stoppages, given the economic risks to both Albertans and Canadians.”
Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation & Economic Corridors