The transportation and handling of perishable goods must be deemed essential, the CFA says
Canada’s ag sector could find itself caught in yet another labour dispute.
More than 5,000 CN employees represented by Unifor voted in favour of a strike mandate in late November.
Workers are prepared to take strike action if no deal is reached by Jan. 1, 2025.
This could be the second CN work stoppage in about six months after CN locked out employees in August.
That disruption only lasted hours as the federal government quickly imposed binding arbitration on CN, CPKC and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.
But regardless of what causes any work stoppage, Canadian industries – including ag, are caught in the crosshairs.
In 2023, Canadian rail freight was 375.1 million tonnes, Stats Canada reported, with loadings of canola, wheat, and potash all increasing during that year.
Canada must be seen as a reputable supplier of agricultural products.
That’s why the government needs to take proper action, said Keith Currie, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
“We urge the government to recognize the transportation and handling of agricultural and perishable goods as essential services, ensuring their uninterrupted flow during labour disputes,” he told Farms.com in an emailed statement.
The government also needs to take a step back and identify how these situations reach a strike or lockout position.
Labour negotiations involving workers at ports or railyards must be studied to find out where gaps exist, Currie said.
“It is crucial to address the root causes that lead to recurring disruptions,” he said. “We call on the government to work with labour and employer groups to examine and resolve the systemic issues behind the increasing regularity with which labour disputes are disrupting the flow of agricultural goods and the broader Canadian economy.”