Farm groups and the rail strike.

[Wheatking]

Can someone explain to me why the liberals would need the NDP to vote for back to work legislation. Surely to Christ the conservatives wouldn't vote against it. We need these guys back to work ASAP with binding arbitration. Screw Jaghmeet and wasting time here. 100% of the railroaders I know would never vote for either the Liberals or NDP anyways, so who exactly are they pandering too. ec

The whole rail system in this country is f'd up, it really needs to be blown up and start again from scratch. The rail workers have legitimate concerns, but also get paid extremely well for what they do. They are essential workers and shouldn't be able to hold us hostage.

[mcfarms]

(Bloomberg) -- Some of the biggest U.S. agriculture trade groups are urging Canada’s prime minister to step in to avert a rail strike in the country that could disrupt the flow of North American commodities.

“We request that you take action to ensure railroad operations continue before a lockout or strike occurs to prevent serious damage to the Canadian and U.S. economies,” 35 U.S. industry groups wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Two of Canada’s largest railroad companies said they’ll shut down operations Thursday if they fail to reach an agreement with more than 9,000 of their unionized workers. The two companies account for 80% of Canada’s rail network.

The agriculture industry ships more than 25,000 rail cars a week of goods on Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. and that figure would “go to zero” during a strike or lockout, according to Monday’s letter signed by groups including the U.S. Grains Council, American Farm Bureau Association and the National Grain and Feed Association. (Statistics Canada, Bloomberg cal)
Agriculture is particularly exposed to rail stoppages given that farmers rely on railways for the timely delivery of fertilizer, crop inputs and feed grains for the livestock industry, according to the letter. Biofuels operations, flour mills and other agriculture operations also require uninterrupted rail service.

Canadian Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon and federal mediators are set to meet with the parties on Tuesday and Wednesday, after the government declined to impose binding arbitration ([url]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-15/labor-minister-rejects-call-to-intervene-in-canada-rail-dispute[/url]) last week.

“Operational railroads are essential on both sides of the border for the integrated North American supply chain,” the groups wrote in their letter. “While we believe a negotiated solution is always the preferred outcome, your government should be prepared to move quickly if negotiations fail.”

--With assistance from Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Jay Zhao-Murray.

[bucket]

Dear Valued Customer,

For the first time in Canadian history our two Class 1 rail providers, CN and CP, will be experiencing a labour disruption at the same time. This unprecedented event is expected to begin at 12:01 am on August 22, 2024; right as harvest on the prairies is reaching full swing. We know that this event, if it occurs, will place a significant burden on Canadian producers as well as the grain companies who serve them. Rest assured we are doing all that we can to continue to receive your grain and to explain to government the importance of averting this disaster, but we need your help!

We are encouraging all producers and customers to voice their concerns to our Minister of Labour, Mr. MacKinnon, and request that he refer the matter to binding arbitration. For your convenience, we are including a link where you can read more about this event as well as find a template letter for you to either submit directly to the Minister through the website or to copy print, sign and send to government officials here: [url]https://stopthestrike.ca/[/url].



Yours Truly,

Paterson Grain


As if the members of the Paterson family don't talk to liberal MPs.

Why ask individual farmers to voice their opinions when the grainco's CEOs have more influence ?

[fjlip]

"I’m to the point after 12 strikes in 14 years, that perhaps it needs to get to the worst point to make the appropriate changes and make all aspects of grain handling and transportation an essential service. This hostage situation for farmers needs to be concluded with a path that it can’t happen again. That would be my bargaining chip as Labour Minister. You have two choices – settle this in 24 hours or this is your last chance to strike or lockout workers – forever."

I like Larry's idea...

[Bushpusher]

The Conservatives are quiet on the issue now. But bet they start hollering and finger pointing after the railways shut down.
it’s almost like they want it to happen so they have something else to blame on the Liberals, but wtf do I know?
Not a single federal party worth voting for at this point. Just a bunch of knobs flinging shit at each other to make the other look worse.

[shtferbrains]

Is the CPKC on strike on the KC lines?

[Blaithin]

I’d presume American lines are subject to American unions and contracts so unless their contract is also up and they’re in the same boat, they’re likely still working.

They just can’t bring stuff north.

Or get their engines or cars back that are up here.

[cropgrower]

The Conservatives are quiet on the issue now. But bet they start hollering and finger pointing after the railways shut down.
it’s almost like they want it to happen so they have something else to blame on the Liberals, but wtf do I know?
Not a single federal party worth voting for at this point. Just a bunch of knobs flinging shit at each other to make the other look worse.

and what can the conservatives do ? NDP is mostly to blame for this mess , truck driver here this morning with load of fert said their is a train abandoned in a town along 16 hwy blocking road tru town , you would think they could at least park the train out of town

[blackpowder]

Hired a guy once who'd been track repair for 40 years. Said train crews were prima donnas.

[fjlip]

and what can the conservatives do ? NDP is mostly to blame for this mess , truck driver here this morning with load of fert said their is a train abandoned in a town along 16 hwy blocking road tru town , you would think they could at least park the train out of town

Tells you what AZZHOLES they are!

Are any workers our friends? Descent honest?