Premier Scott Moe and Highways Minister Lori Carr are calling on the federal government to intervene in order to prevent a railway work stoppage which could create a major backlog. (PixelsAway/Depositphotos.com)

By CKOM News Staff

Sask. Gov. calls Ottawa to prevent ‘devastating’ rail work stoppage

Aug 13, 2024 | 11:26 AM

As the harvest season continues, Saskatchewan’s highways minister is calling on the federal labour and transport ministers to step in and prevent work stoppages on the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City railways.

Thousands of conductors, engineers and yard workers at the two rail lines have been bargaining for months, and both companies have said they will lock out workers on August 22 if an agreement isn’t reached.

Highways Minister Lori Carr sent a letter to federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez and Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon on Tuesday, warning of the potentially harmful effects a work stoppage could have on the economies of both Saskatchewan and Canada.

In the letter, which was shared to social media by Premier Scott Moe, Carr said a decision by the Canada Industrial Relations Board ruling that a work stoppage on the two railways wouldn’t present a public health and safety threat has cleared the way for a possible strike or lockout.

“A stoppage will have a devastating effect on the supply chain and damage Canada’s reputation as a reliable training partner with our international customers,” Carr wrote.

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“As a landlocked province, Saskatchewan producers depend on reliable rail service and smooth-functioning supply chains to get our products to market. Freight rail services are essential for transporting large volumes of grain, potash, oil and other key exports to domestic and international markets.”

To avoid costly disruptions to the rail network, Carr called on Rodriguez and MacKinnon to step in with measures to prevent a work stoppage while negotiations are resolved. Carr said it could include back-to-work legislation or a directive for binding arbitration prohibiting the union from striking.

“The federal government must ensure there is no disruption of rail service due to a strike or lockout,” Moe added in a social media post.

Moe’s comments echoed those of Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit, who said on Monday railways should be deemed an essential service.

Dale Heenan, who farms south of Grand Coulee, agreed with the minister, saying a rail stoppage could create a huge backlog with ripple effects that last even beyond a resolution in the labour dispute.

“It backs everything up, and we don’t know how long it could be,” Heenan said.

–with files from 980 CJME’s Daniel Reech