What You Need to Know About the CPKC and CN Rail Strike
The Ongoing CP and CN Rail Strike
The Canadian rail industry is currently facing significant disruptions as workers from Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Canadian National Railway (CN) prepare for a potential strike. This labor dispute has been brewing for months and has now reached a critical juncture.
The contracts covering locomotive engineers, conductors, and yard workers at both CN and CPKC expired on December 31, 2023. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, representing the rail workers, has been in negotiations with the rail companies to secure a new agreement. Despite multiple rounds of talks, the parties have yet to reach a consensus.
In early August of 2024, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ruled that rail services are not considered “essential” under the Canada Labour Code. This means that a strike or lockout could proceed without mandatory service continuation. If no agreement is reached by August 22, 2024, then the workers will go on strike and there will be a complete stop of rail shipments – even those that are still in transit by this deadline.
How it affects you
Depending on who is managing your freight, the impact to you may be mitigated. If you are a client of ADLI Logistics, you will already have been briefed of the impact and we have created a plan for you.
ADLI Logistics is in constant contact with our partners and have implemented a cutoff freight going rail. We do not want our client’s freight stuck somewhere during a strike. As such, depending on the customer’s service levels and nature of goods, we carefully tailor the deadline to reduce cost and risk of goods stuck at a railyard.
Rail is a critical component of the country’s supply chain, transporting goods ranging from raw materials to consumer products. A prolonged work stoppage could lead to delays and shortages, affecting various industries and potentially leading to higher prices for consumers.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides continuing to negotiate in the hopes of reaching a fair and equitable agreement. The next few days will be crucial in determining whether a strike or lockout can be avoided. As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on the negotiations, hoping for a resolution that addresses the concerns of both the workers and the rail companies.
If you would like to talk about the rail strike, how affects you more specifically, and how ADLI Logistics can help you manage this service disruption and any potential future disruptions, please Contact Us.
