By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Thursday March 17, 2022

Mar 17, 2022 | 9:38 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – Roughly 3,000 rail workers could be off the job early Sunday morning.

CP Rail said it issued 72-hour notice to the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference of its plan to lock out employees if the union and the company are unable to come to a negotiated settlement or agree to binding arbitration.

The company said in a media release it tabled an offer Tuesday to address 26 outstanding issues, including the union’s key issues of wages, benefits, and pensions.

CP Rail said the union rejected the offer and continues to table additional demands.

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Many CP Rail customers have raised concerns about the possibility of a labour disruption at a time when supply chains are already strained due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has asked the federal government to classify rail workers as essential.

Moe said it would be disastrous for the province that moves many products by rail, including grain.

The Saskatchewan Party government plans to deliver a petition to Ottawa this week calling for the change.

Opposition NDP agriculture critic Trent Wotherspoon said he hopes CP Rail and Teamsters Canada can negotiate a fair deal without government interference while continuing to respect workers’ rights.

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Nutrien Ltd. is raising its potash production for this year in response to the uncertainty of supply from eastern Europe as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues.

The company said it will increase production by roughly one million tonnes to about 15 million tonnes.

Most of additional volume is expected to be produced in the second half of the year.

The company also said it will be hiring additional workers at its potash mines in Saskatchewan.

Canada is the world’s largest potash producer, but Russia and Belarus are also major exporters.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW