Canadian Railroads Embargo Shipments Ahead of Union Dispute

Teamsters and Rail Companies at Impasse

Negotiations between the Teamsters union and Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) have reached a standstill, prompting the rail companies to announce they will begin locking out workers.

CPKC Embargoes Canadian Shipments

CPKC announced on Saturday that it would immediately halt all new rail shipments originating from Canada and the United States.

CN Halts Hazardous Shipments

CN issued a service notice stating that it had embargoed hazardous materials coming from the United States, effective Monday, August 14th, 2024, ten days ahead of the potential work stoppage.

Industry-Wide Embargoes

According to the Railway Association of Canada, other major Canadian rail carriers are also imposing freight embargoes in preparation for the possible work stoppage.

Potential Work Stoppage

The potential work stoppage would begin on August 17th, 2024, at 11:34 a.m. EDT, if a labor agreement is not reached.

Government Intervention

The Canadian government has rejected CN Rail's request for binding arbitration in the dispute, leaving the parties to continue negotiations.

Impact on Economy

A rail work stoppage would have a significant impact on the Canadian economy, affecting industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and retail.

Ongoing Negotiations

Negotiations between the Teamsters and the rail companies are ongoing, and it is hoped that a resolution can be reached before the potential work stoppage.

Sources:

• CBC News: Canadian Pacific embargoes rail shipments from Canada, U.S.
• Railway Association of Canada: Canadian railways issue customer advisories in advance of potential labour disruption
• Global News: CN Rail to embargo hazardous materials ahead of possible strike