The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) and the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) have issued an urgent plea to the federal government to prevent an impending national rail strike, which could begin as early as August 22, 2024. This strike threatens severe disruptions to Canada’s pork industry, potentially leading to millions in losses, plant shutdowns, and critical delays in both feed and product deliveries. The CPC emphasizes the dire need for government intervention to safeguard the welfare of animals and maintain Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner.
The CPC and CMC are urging the use of section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which would allow the Canada Industrial Relations Board to enforce binding arbitration and prevent the strike, ensuring continuity in the essential transportation of goods like pork and animal feed. The disruption caused by a strike of this magnitude could result in up to $3 million in weekly losses for some processing plants and could severely impact the industry’s ability to recover even after rail services resume.
The federal government is being called upon to balance the rights of workers with the broader public interest, ensuring the Canadian pork industry can continue to operate and meet both domestic and international demands.
For more information, please refer to the statement released by the Canadian Meat Council and the Canadian Pork Council.
Source : Swine Web