rail service Archives - Page 2 of 3

File photo of a CN locomotive. (Dave Bedard photo)

CN, mechanics avert strike with tentative deal

Ratification votes pending

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News March 21, 2023

Canadian National Railway and the union representing its mechanics and intermodal and clerical workers have reached a tentative labour deal, averting a potential strike. CN, Unifor Local 100 and Unifor Council 4000 on Monday announced they have reached four new tentative collective agreements to cover about 3,000 railway employees, who had voted earlier this month […] Read more

Crops, Reuters

U.S. regulator approves CP’s purchase of Kansas City Southern

Two U.S. grain grower groups warn of reduced rail competition

By GFM Network News March 16, 2023

Washington | Reuters — The Surface Transportation Board of the United States said on Wednesday it had approved Canadian Pacific Railway’s US$31 billion acquisition of railroad company Kansas City Southern, with a series of environmental and competition conditions. The board, which oversees U.S. freight railroads, is imposing some requirements on the deal, which was agreed […] Read more

Crops, Weather

Absence of issues leads to January record for grain movement

CN, CP so far see 'calamity-free' 2022-23

By GFM Network News February 7, 2023

MarketsFarm — So far this winter grain movement in Canada has yet to incur few — if any — major problems that have stymied rail shipments, according to Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp., which tracks rail movement in Canada. Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway (CP, CN) have been doing good jobs during […] Read more

File photo of a CN locomotive in Chicago. (Photo courtesy CN)

Crops, Machinery, Reuters

Third U.S. union rejects national rail contract deal

Two major unions' decisions due next week

By GFM Network News November 15, 2022

Washington | Reuters — A third U.S. rail union voted on Monday to reject a tentative national contract reached in September, but expects to continue negotiating to reach a deal. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB), which represents about 300 U.S. rail employees, rejected the agreement, said the union and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee […] Read more

A freight train at Manchac, La., about 75 km east of Baton Rouge. (CN.ca)

Crops, Machinery, Reuters

U.S. railroads, union extend strike deadline until at least Dec. 4

Teamsters warn against 'blatant attempt to cause panic'

By GFM Network News November 10, 2022

Washington | Reuters — A group representing major railroads and a union that voted to reject a new contract said Wednesday they had agreed to extend a potential strike deadline until at least Dec. 4. The National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED) that represents 11,000 workers extended the current […] Read more

File photo from a Teamster-represented engineers’ picket at CN in Winnipeg in 2009. (Dave Bedard photo)

Crops

Unions rip supply chain report’s language on strikes

Task force calls for 'new labour relations paradigm'

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News October 27, 2022

Recommendations from the federal government’s National Supply Chain Task Force to strengthen the country’s supply chains have drawn a cheer but also one significant jeer from unions in the transport sector. The task force’s final report, released Oct. 6, offered up 21 recommendations aimed at easing congestion in Canada’s ports, filling labour shortages and improving […] Read more

Crops

U.S. rail embargoes may stymie some Canadian rail traffic

CN halts most cross-border traffic; CP also monitoring situation

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News September 15, 2022

Mindful of the potential for snarls on their own tracks, Canada’s big two railways are monitoring talks between a clutch of major U.S. railways and several of their labour unions to avert strikes and/or lockouts that may begin as early as Friday. As of Wednesday, three unions out of the 12 representing unionized rail workers […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

Ukraine restores Moldova rail link

Rail line could carry 10 million tonnes of freight per year

By Reuters, GFM Network News August 22, 2022

Reuters — Ukraine has restored a rail link to neighbouring Moldova after a 23-year hiatus and the connection could carry 10 million tonnes of freight a year, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address on Monday. Although he did not specify what kinds of goods, Ukraine is keen to find new ways to export […] Read more

Crops, Machinery

CN service continues as signals staff strike

Talks continue after IBEW-represented employees stopped work Saturday

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News June 21, 2022

Canadian National Railway is reporting “normal” rail operations after its signals and communications workers walked out on strike starting Saturday. Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), which represents about 750 CN employees across Canada, served the railway with strike notice last Wednesday and started their strike Saturday morning, the company said. IBEW […] Read more

CF Industries’ UAN plant at Donaldsonville in Louisiana. The company also makes UAN at plants in Ontario, Iowa and Oklahoma. (Thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com)

Crops, Reuters

CF Industries warns of shipment delays via Union Pacific

By Reuters, GFM Network News April 14, 2022

Reuters — Fertilizer firm CF Industries on Thursday warned of delays in shipment of its nitrogen fertilizers, a week after Union Pacific mandated certain shippers to reduce the volume of private cars on its rails. The announcement of delay also comes a month after CF said it is increasing fertilizer shipments to both U.S. coasts […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

GFM Network News