Two unions currently engaged in contract talks with the Canadian National Railway have voted in favor of strike action, according to reporting by CityNews Calgary. Members of Unifor Local 100 and Unifor Council 4000 voted favorably after contract talks with the railway broke down in February.
News in transportation
Conifex Timber to Temporarily Curtail Production at Its Mackenzie, BC, Sawmill Due to Rail Service Challenges
Conifex Timber announced on Friday that it will be temporarily curtailing production at its Mackenzie, British Columbia, sawmill for a period of up to two weeks. The company cited unsustainable inventory levels due to rail transportation challenges.
US Freight Railroad and Intermodal Usage Slips in 2022
According to data released by the Association of American Railroads on Thursday, the US operations of freight railroads handled 25.4 million carloads and intermodal units in 2022. This is down 2.8% from 2021.
Freight Railroad Strike Averted
The US Senate has passed legislation, 80 to 15, to avert a nationwide Class 1 freight railroad strike that was scheduled to begin at 12:01 AM on Friday, December 9th.
US House Passes Legislation to Prevent Nationwide Rail Strike; Bill Moves to the Senate for Approval
The US House of Representatives today voted to approve legislation that would avoid a nationwide Class 1 Freight Railroad strike scheduled to begin on December 9th. The bill is now headed to the US Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer voiced his optimism on the bill’s prospects.
President Biden Asks Congress to Prevent a Nationwide Class 1 Freight Railroad Strike or Lockout
With the December 9th deadline for a US Class 1 freight railroad worker strike or operating railroads lockout rapidly approaching, and with 400 trade groups pleading for action, President Joe Biden asked Congress to pass legislation that would compel railroads and unions to adopt the new agreement.
US Class 1 Freight Railroad Update: Final Two Unions Split on Labor Agreement
The two remaining unions representing US Class 1 Freight Railroad workers have completed their voting on the tentative labor agreement. The results were split, increasing the possibility of a rail strike that could start in early December.
Rail Strike Update: International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Rejects Labor Agreement
Members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) have rejected the labor agreement that was worked out between the railroads and the leadership of 12 different rail workers unions. The IBB represents about 300 rail employees.
Potential for US Class 1 Freight Railroad Strike Pushed to Early December
FreightWaves is reporting that the Brotherhood of Maintenance Way–Employee Division will not go on strike after November 19th, opting instead to hold off any potential work stoppage action until early December.
US Railroad Union Strike Possible as Early as November 19th
On Saturday, members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 19 narrowly approved the ratification of a labor agreement with US Class 1 railroads. According to the IAM, 52% of its membership voted in favor of accepting the agreement.