The Wheat Growers Association has spoken directly with the minister of Labour on several occasions, only to be told that binding arbitration will not be used in the current rail strike situation. The federal government would rather bring the Canadian economy and our food security to a standstill. There have been more than 12 strikes in the past 14 years.
“It is shocking that the Minister of Labour will not use the tools available to him, including Sec 107 of the Labour Act, to thwart the pending rail strike. It is unprecedented in recent memory, that both railways will be shutdown simultaneously. This government is failing all Canadians, rather than prioritizing our national economy,” stated Gunter Jochum, president.
As harvest is starting across the country, grain elevators and terminals require the steady movement of grain due to limited storage and to meet our export commitments. Canadian agriculture contributes $150B to our GDP. It is appalling that strike action by a few can hold a national economy hostage and that we have heard nothing from the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Hon. Lawrence MacAulay.
“Rail companies have already initiated embargoes on the movement of goods, including grain, to safely shut down the system. If a full strike by both railways is implemented, it will take weeks to bring the system back up to speed once a strike is over,” continued Jochum. “
Grain companies have stopped their sales efforts forcing international customers to source from other countries. This has both an immediate and long-term impact to farmers, grain companies and other stakeholders. Damage to our reputation as a reliable supplier will take years to rebuild, if ever.
