Railway industry continues to live in the past.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cn-cpkc-embargo-hazardous-goods-1.7293301
If they are Embargoing HAZMAT now, they are living in the future. They don't want to be responsible for HAZMAT stranded on line by a strike.
HAZMAT liability can create catastrophic situations for carriers
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Wasn't referring to safety actions being taken. Just the us vs. them and let's bite the hand that feeds the both of us mindset.
GrampWasn't referring to safety actions being taken. Just the us vs. them and let's bite the hand that feeds the both of us mindset.
When you overlook safety, you are overlooking reality.
I believe Gramps is not referring to the refusal for handling Hazmat shpments, but management policy that provokes a threat of a strike.
And I agree.
Both sides want, what is in their respective views, a fair deal. Obviously what each side considers fair is not the same.
It sounds like both have their lines in the sand drawn. It also sounds like if the unions don't walk out, the carriers will lock them out.
Placing embargoes on hazmat, and probably other traffic as the deadline draws near is to limit their liability in case of a protracted shutdown.
I have no idea on what. If any recourse the Canadian government has to delay or prevent a shutdown, but placing the embargo could be a step to bring on any available legal action.
Jeff
May be good news for the other railroads as shippers look for alternatives. That's the risk of a protracted lockout/strike..sometimes the alternatives "stick"..and the freight doesn't come back...a loss all the way 'round for the carriers and their workers.
I don't know that the lockout - which apparently started earlier today - would benefit other railroads? CN and CPKC control like 99% of Canada's freight rail lines. Even one of the US railroads that serve Canada would probably be unable to deliver a freight car to a Canadian destination without going through at least some trackage owned by CN or CPKC and accessed under a trackage rights agreement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/22/world/canada/canada-freight-trains.html#:~:text=Rail%20freight%20traffic%20in%20Canada%20came%20to%20a,contract%20talks%20that%20failed%20to%20reach%20an%20agreement.
UlrichMay be good news for the other railroads as shippers look for alternatives. That's the risk of a protracted lockout/strike..sometimes the alternatives "stick"..and the freight doesn't come back...a loss all the way 'round for the carriers and their workers.
The only traffic that US railroads would likely be able to pick up would be intermodal that would be drayed to a US railroad terminal location and then be forwarded on the US carrier to a US Export port. Imports could use the reverse and get drayed from the carriers terminal back into Canada.
The ultimate long term result? Who knows?
Am I safe to assume that the CN and CPKC lines in the United States are also under this strike/lockout situation?
CSSHEGEWISCHAm I safe to assume that the CN and CPKC lines in the United States are also under this strike/lockout situation?
I don't know! However, since there is not a pending conflict with the unions that represent the US side of their networks - a Lock Out on the US side of the network might be prosecuted by the authorities as an illegal action under US Labor laws. The US Unions, to my knowledge, would have no 'right to strike' in sympathy with the Canadian unions, and could be prosecuted if they did.
CSSHEGEWISCH Am I safe to assume that the CN and CPKC lines in the United States are also under this strike/lockout situation?
Nope, the US CN and CPKC lines are technically separate US entities, so are not locked out.
There are nominally two versions of Labor/Management when it comes to railroads or any other activity where Unions are involved in the workforce.
The Us vs. Them - antagonistic version that is being demonstrated currently in the Canadian railroad industry, where neither side has respect for the other side.
The 'We are all in this together' version where both labor and management understand AND ACKNOWLEDGE both parties are required for the organization to reach the future to be benefit of both parties.
wjstix CSSHEGEWISCH Am I safe to assume that the CN and CPKC lines in the United States are also under this strike/lockout situation? Nope, the US CN and CPKC lines are technically separate US entities, so are not locked out.
Yes, they bargain separately with affiliated, but separate unions. I have read that the US unions have instructed their members not to cross any Canadian picket lines. That would be limited to places where Canadian and US operations meet.
With all the mergers, I wonder how much of CN and CPKC are still "Canadian"? By that, I mean what percentage of their operations are in Canada.
It can get confusing. As I understand it, a Canadian railroad cannot operate in the US (and vice-versa) but can own a US railroad and operate it as part of it's system. So for example, I believe CN's lines in the US are owned by the Grand Truck Corp., a US company owned by CN. Before the KCS merger, CP's US lines were under the Soo Line out of St. Paul MN. I know the US HQ has now moved to Kansas City, but not sure the corporate name they're using.
When CSX was trying to sell the Massena line, it was CN subsidiary B&LE that was going to "buy" the line.
The Canadian-made thing was made manifest with EMD's London facility and ALCO's Montreal Locomotive Works.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 When CSX was trying to sell the Massena line, it was CN subsidiary B&LE that was going to "buy" the line. The Canadian-made thing was made manifest with EMD's London facility and ALCO's Montreal Locomotive Works.
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