Not directly related to federal politics, but an issue that could have political repercussions.
The Teamsters union just gave notice to CPKC that they intend to go on strike in 4 days if they don't reach an agreement. At the same time, CN issued a lockout notice to their employees.
Be prepared for some serious supply chain issues and economic fallout if this drags on.
If anyone is concerned about these potential work stoppages they should contact both companies and ask them why they appear to have been working together over the past year to ensure that the two disputes happen at the same time when they know it might have a devastating impact on the economy.
How hard can it be to run a train? Lets just tie some Fentanyl to the end of a fishing rod, tape it to the roof and some junkies will get it where it needs to go!
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If anyone is concerned about these potential work stoppages they should contact both companies and ask them why they appear to have been working together over the past year to ensure that the two disputes happen at the same time when they know it might have a devastating impact on the economy.
I don't know much about the background of the disputes or how things played out over the last year. I do believe that some of the worker concerns apparently revolve around health and safety issues and that both companies (I believe, but could be wrong), have agreements to use each other's tracks in some areas. I think the way the rail industry works, there is a certain amount of coordination between the two. Not to mention other rail companies like VIA and BNSF that operate in Canada.
It's also the same union that represents workers from both companies, so if they were putting pressure on both companies at the same time, it makes sense that both companies would coordinate in dealing with it.
Like I said, I am not informed enough on the actual issues to have an opinion on which side has higher ground on this. I tend to think that the workers probably have legitimate issues just based on history.
If both do shut down, I don't give it long before the federal government forces something to happen.
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If both do shut down, I don't give it long before the federal government forces something to happen.
Yeah, the feds will step in with binding arbitration and back-to-work legislation with the snap of a finger. They've refused to intervene so far, but they won't let a prolonged work stoppage happen.
Unless they're even stupider than I thought, which... you never know!
Yeah, but why should they step in? CN & CP shouldn't be such idiots about offering a better deal.
Both companies make decent profit, both have good growth, rail is expected to keep growing year over year, there is a connection to Mexico, centerport is being built in Winnipeg, Churchill shipped its first container of minerals in 20 years, etc, etc.
Makes literally no sense to all of a sudden put up a wall and refuse to sign a deal ASAP.
To me it looks like both companies know and expect the government to step in and force the workers to go back to work and therefore are making zero effort to do anything.
I don't know much about the background of the disputes or how things played out over the last year. I do believe that some of the worker concerns apparently revolve around health and safety issues and that both companies (I believe, but could be wrong), have agreements to use each other's tracks in some areas. I think the way the rail industry works, there is a certain amount of coordination between the two. Not to mention other rail companies like VIA and BNSF that operate in Canada.
It's also the same union that represents workers from both companies, so if they were putting pressure on both companies at the same time, it makes sense that both companies would coordinate in dealing with it.
Like I said, I am not informed enough on the actual issues to have an opinion on which side has higher ground on this. I tend to think that the workers probably have legitimate issues just based on history.
If both do shut down, I don't give it long before the federal government forces something to happen.
Back in February both companies applied for conciliation on literally the same day.
One could have called that a coincidence at the time, albeit a pretty BIG coincidence, but now that CN has decided to issue lockout notice right when the Union served strike notice to CPKC I think most would infer that these companies are colluding to try and force the government’s hand in legislating them back to work.
They are 100% colluding, and 100% IMO making decisions based on the expectation that the government will step in and legislate everyone back to work.
Which at this point is likely to happen.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens, especially what the CPC who are really pushing to get support from labour right now do. Poilievre should do what he did during the westjet strike and keep his mouth shut whereas in the past he would have been pressuring the liberals to legislate them back to work.
Yeah, but why should they step in? CN & CP shouldn't be such idiots about offering a better deal.
Both companies make decent profit, both have good growth, rail is expected to keep growing year over year, there is a connection to Mexico, centerport is being built in Winnipeg, Churchill shipped its first container of minerals in 20 years, etc, etc.
Makes literally no sense to all of a sudden put up a wall and refuse to sign a deal ASAP.
To me it looks like both companies know and expect the government to step in and force the workers to go back to work and therefore are making zero effort to do anything.
They are private companies that effectively have a duopoly on one of the most economically important pieces of infrastructure in the country. They know the government will step in to legislate, so why wouldn't they play hardball? I work in ag so I mostly hear the non-union propaganda but the message from the railroads is that the union demands are not based in economic reality.
The unions are going to get hurt by the timing as well but shutting down both railroads during harvest is a great way to amp the political pressure to 11. I am really curious if that that was purposefully guided or an unhappy coincidence for the unions but I am not sure we will ever find out.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens, especially what the CPC who are really pushing to get support from labour right now do. Poilievre should do what he did during the westjet strike and keep his mouth shut whereas in the past he would have been pressuring the liberals to legislate them back to work.
He’ll play to his base on this one and call for legislation back to work imo.
They are private companies that effectively have a duopoly on one of the most economically important pieces of infrastructure in the country. They know the government will step in to legislate, so why wouldn't they play hardball? I work in ag so I mostly hear the non-union propaganda but the message from the railroads is that the union demands are not based in economic reality.
The unions are going to get hurt by the timing as well but shutting down both railroads during harvest is a great way to amp the political pressure to 11. I am really curious if that that was purposefully guided or an unhappy coincidence for the unions but I am not sure we will ever find out.
I don't really know what the demands are, so I have to admit that I'm totally ignorant on that.
On the flip side I have some friends that are on the union side and they are saying they are sick and tired of being treated like a commodity.
So obviously two sides to the story which I'm sure you knew.
Interesting about those critical pieces of infrastructure. How much of it did the taxpayers fund to build?
Why there shouldn't be opposition to the increase in capital gains tax. Yes, there could be some tweaking done.... but God the income disparity in this country is bad.
Quote:
The report says Canadians with an annual income of more than $250,000, representing 1.5 per cent of tax filers, earned 61 per cent of individual capital gains in 2021.
Quote:
According to his findings, the miscellaneous intermediation sector, which includes venture capital companies and investment banks, as well as the real estate sector, together made 52.6 per cent of all corporate capital gains reported in Canada between 2018 and 2022.
Meanwhile, these sectors shed nearly 5,000 jobs during that time period.
So the conservatives released an extremely cringe video of PP talking "Canadiana" at the Stampede. Listening to him trying to sound folksy is bad enough, but for a video trying to espouse the good ol' days of Canada, none of the footage they used was actually from Canada
The actual video, if anyone wants the cringe first hand. God it's gonna suck having to listen to that voice as PM for however many years until the liberals get their #### together again
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Lol that's on par for Conservatives. They have all the momentum and also the highest potential to absolutely #### the bed. I'm still not convinced that they'll sweep it clean come fall 2025.
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I don't really know what the demands are, so I have to admit that I'm totally ignorant on that.
On the flip side I have some friends that are on the union side and they are saying they are sick and tired of being treated like a commodity.
So obviously two sides to the story which I'm sure you knew.
Interesting about those critical pieces of infrastructure. How much of it did the taxpayers fund to build?
Railroads in general have a really interesting role in nation building and came with a whole lot of grifting. Lots of interesting reads on their history. The only option governments really have is to nationalize them if they think there are serious issues with how they are run as you can't feasibly build a new rail network.
Latest rumour is money demands are basically met but the time off demands are the thing really out of whack. I don't think they will get much love publicly if the union is actually demanding 200 days of scheduling availability.
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Oooof. That is cringe-level content. Between this video and the chud brigade being deployed in the American politics thread, I think North American conservatism should just go sit in the corner the rest of the week. Yikes yikes yikes.
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