A spokesperson for the Teamsters says “no substantive progress” has been made at the negotiating table in recent days although the union and railroad continue to meet with federal mediators. TCRC President Lyndon Isaak says safety is the union’s primary concern.
“We are fighting for the safest workplace possible. We’ve lost nine of our members in various railway accidents over the past 24 months, including three from the group at CN that’s currently on strike,” Isaak says.
According to the Teamsters, CN has expanded its use of remote-control locomotives in yards despite protests from the union. The union has also complained that CN has made it harder for employees to take time off, increasing the risk of fatigue-related incidents. CN officials have rejected the union’s claims.
Conductors, train persons, and yard workers walked out at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. The railroad and the union have been in negotiations for seven months and have been working with federal mediators for the last five months. The railroad’s previous labor agreement expired in July.
This week, industry groups warned that layoffs were likely in the coming days if the strike continued to drag on. Politicians in Quebec and Ontario are also saying that their provinces were having to ration propane.
The Teamsters say CN is purposely not moving propane to “manufacture” a crisis. While more than 3,000 conductors and yard workers are on strike, locomotive engineers and supervisors are still at work and “free to cross picket lines and continue to operate freight trains every day,” the union says.
“While CN is nowhere near operating at full capacity, we think enough trains are running to allow CN to supply Ontario and Québec with propane,” Isaak says. “We wonder if CN is choosing not to ship goods like propane in order to manufacture a crisis and force back-to-work legislation.”
Industry groups and politicians have called on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to pass legislation forcing CN employees back to work. The Liberal government has not indicated whether or not it will call back parliament, but officials say they are watching the situation closely and hoping for a speedy resolution.
One union grievance I see here, is time off provisions. I can see people want to get a day or two off to rest. That the union has to negotiate for their members on this issue raises the question why?
Al, are you privy to exactly what the negotiation sticking points are? And yes, believe it or not, safety is always an issue with us. How come when the industry executives tout safety as number one its gospel? But when the union brings up safety we are seen as just a bunch of guys angling for something else.
Daniel, people like you and I who are actually the “boots on the ground” when it comes to the freight moving are loved by the railfans when there is a wave, or a whistle or maybe a look around involved. But when it comes to other matters, we are just seen as overpaid, contribute nothing drains on the company. Funny how that works. The execs see us the same way. When it makes for feel good PR we are “valued team members.” When it comes to contract time or speaking at investor conferences, we are seen as a drain to the company bottom line.
The union could do everything right, but Al and others would still find a way to bash them (somehow!).
Gerald Mcfarlane…ever run a remote control unit switching? they are DUMB and will run you over without a problem. I ran one for 7 years and HATED IT. Much faster output with a decent engineer at the controls HANDS DOWN. Been there and DID IT 5 days a week.
Eastbound (SB) freight through Waukesha (Wisconsin) still running yesterday.
Via is still operating. They have their own engine crews. The Canadian has been on time. if not early!
Had a look at CN traffic this am between Neenah and Oshkosh, Wis. On the short Winnebago siding north of Oshkosh was an unusual consist of 30-40 cars behind 4 units northbound. No sight of the expected southbound. The so-called “hot” stacker was loitering northbound on the old C&NW main in Neenah. A CN track guy was non-committal at the gas station.
The number one negotiating point is ALWAYS safety-related (somehow!).
I’d like to see any proof from the union that remote control operations are unsafe…I’d argue to the contrary and there’s plenty of evidence to back it up.
Is VIA still operating?