Despite Strike CN Keeps Moving

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Saw this news update on the CN, thought it might be of interest.

LC

With 5,000 workers out, CN keeps rolling

In the fourth day of a strike by approximately 5,000 shopcraft, clerical, and intermodal yard employees, CN reported that business was at near normal levels under a contingency operating plan. That plan went into effect as employees represented by the Canadian Auto Workers Union walked out on Feb. 20 after failing to ratify new contracts negotiated by the company and the union. Court orders prevented picket lines from closing access to intermodal yards. The strike was not unexpected, and CN announced Feb. 19 that it would maintain normal freight schedules, with management employees performing CAW functions, though it warned that shippers might experience some delays.

From Railway Age

2

They think things are normal, huh? Um, try moving a trailer (TOFC) to or from any point in Canada on CN. Ain’t gonna happen. They embargoed all trailers until the strike is over.

3

What is UP’s excuse then.I have been waiting 45 days to get
5 TOFC cars that I have purchased in Oregon to Montana.
One even made to Eastpoint Idaho then it went up to Canada then
all through western Canada then back to BNSF interchange at Vancouver BC

4

FORD IS MAD AT CN FOR NOT GETTING PARTS ONTIME THEN FORD HAD TO SHUT DOWN

5

like I said it would be a matter of time before it affects american buisness. I feel bad for the workers at ford and other plants.
stay safe
Joe

6

Oh well…

I wonder what it will mean for the rest of the RRs and the economy. A lot of cars on CN may be stuck there for a while…

LC

7

The Federal Gov’t of Canada does have the right to step in and impose a “cooling off” period, but thus far hasn’t indicated that they would. You wonder how bad things have to get first?

Hey Big Edd - I hear you about your UP RR troubles. I ship with them in large quantities and when it takes 10 days to move your load 200 miles, thing are not running so well. Keep being the squeaky wheel with UP customer service in St. Louis.

8

Ford Canada sends home workers after they refuse to unload CN rail cars

Canadian Press

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

MONTREAL (CP) - Ford of Canada said Tuesday it had to send home 3,700 dayshift workers from three assembly plants in Ontario after some employees refused to load and unload Canadian National Railway cars.

A car assembly plant in St. Thomas, and pickup truck and minivan plants in Oakville, west of Toronto, sent home workers.

The action by members of the Canadian Auto Workers union apparently was in solidarity with 5,000 CAW members on strike at CN since last Friday.

Ford spokeswoman Lauren More said workers were refusing to unload car parts coming in by train as well as load vehicles on CN rail cars. Without the parts, work had to be stopped.

“The parts have arrived but some CAW members at the Ford operations are refusing to handle the inbound rail shipments and this has impacted our ability to maintain production,” More said.

The CAW said union action has disrupted delivery of truck frames from a Magna plant in Milton, Ont., to a DaimlerChrysler plant, although the auto company did not confirm this.

CN said the work stoppages are company decisions and added its railcars have delivered the goods on time.

Spokesman Mark Hallman said service throughout Canada remains “pretty close to normal,” during the legal strike by CAW train yard, maintenance and clerical workers.

© The Canadian Press 2004

9

the CAW seems to have messed up alot of things.

10

During the news yesterday they had a report on the strike.

Seems the strikers don’t have the right to stop trucks from entering the property to unload their containers, but they are making it hard for the drivers to do so.

They slowly walk in front of the trucks, and yell at the drivers to stop, take pictures of the drivers and video tape them so they will have documentation of who the “scabs” are.

It seems that some trucks get the idea and turn around in support while others don’t care, and slowly make their way across the pickets.

After watching this news report, I can clearly see that everything is not running normally on the CN system at present.