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By Julia Lovett-Squires

Rail reaction

Binding arbitration of rail dispute ‘Best outcome’ for the Battlefords

Aug 24, 2024 | 7:00 AM

The lockout of over 9,000 railway workers only lasted a day before being forced to binding arbitration.

For local farmers like Heath Gabruch, it’s a relief.

“It’s good that they did decide to do that, and the government stepped in and that things can get back to normal,” he said.

The prospect of being unable to ship his crop at harvest had been weighing on the grain farmer and other farmers in the area.

“It’s kind of a critical time of year especially in agriculture.”

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Months of negotiations with the unionized members led to breakdowns with Canadian National Railway Co. (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CPKC) and rail workers including engineers and conductors were shut out in the early morning hours on Thursday.

In a text message, Jeremy Cockrill, Battlefords MLA, said “In this situation, imposing binding arbitration was the appropriate move for the federal government to ensure that everything Saskatchewan grows, mines and produces can keep moving to markets.”

In an email from Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison, agreed with Premier Scott Moe’s sentiments.

“The federal government took the appropriate action in this situation, imposing binding arbitration on all parties to ensure Canadian products continue moving to market,” he said.

“As an export-based province, Saskatchewan relies on these stable supply chains to transport commodities to global markets.”

According to Meadow Lake Mayor Merlin Seymour, the strike would’ve had a “great impact” not just on the province but nationally.

“Meadow Lake has not had rail service to our community for a number of years, which forces our local farmers and the 3 mills to truck everything out to meet up with the available rail system,” he said in an email.

Gabruch, who grows grain, wheat and lentils, said that farmers were faced with the possibility of not being able to do their fall application of fertilizer products.

“A lot of that comes in by rail to the distribution centres and are dispersed to the retail side of things,” he said, noting there would be a lag effect.

The farmer said ultimately, it was more than a regional issue. It was in truth, a North American problem.

“There were a number of (United States) entities that had put together a letter to the Prime Minister [Justin Trudeau] talking about the impact of both rail systems shutting down effectively in Canada and what impact that would have on the US,” he said, referring to a news article he had read earlier this week.

Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie said in a statement that the decision was the “best outcome.”

“Rail is an essential service and needs to be treated as such,” he said via text.

“The Battlefords economy is largely dependent on agriculture, a prolonged outlook would have significant impacts on each and every business and resident.”

Meanwhile, according to a City of North Battleford spokesperson, the city is “pleased” and noted “other levels of government understand the importance of continuing the movement of Canadian products to market, including on the rail lines which run through our community.”

*Note, the Teamster’s Union served a strike notice to CN Rail on Friday that will take effect Monday morning. The work stoppage is subject to change.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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