May 1, 2023 – The national strike is now over for members of the PA, SV, TC and EB bargaining groups, who are required to return to work May 1 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time or their next scheduled shift. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) says strike action continues for 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency workers nationwide, with contract negotiations ongoing.
April 17, 2023 – The country’s largest federal public service union says if a deal isn’t reached with the federal government by 9 pm EDT on Tuesday, it will launch a strike the next day. The Public Service Alliance of Canada says some 155,000 employees are prepared to walk off the job beginning Wednesday, including 35,000 workers from the Canada `Revenue Agency. Mediated contract negotiations between the union and the Treasury Board continued over the weekend in what the union described as the government’s final chance to reach a deal.
April 10, 2023 – Terminals at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach effectively shut down as a result of a local longshore labour action that began Thursday evening. The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents West Coast port employers, said a local union at the twin portswithheld some labour for the evening shift on Thursday, leading to widespread labour shortages that halted operations. The actions continued, leading to closures on Friday morning as well. This has been a sudden escalation in an overall peaceful period as negotiations continue on a new contract.
April 3, 2023 – After the ILWU filed a notice of dispute to Canada’s Minister of Labour, two conciliation officers from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service were appointed to this matter last week. The conciliation officers have a 60-day mandate from the day of appointment. An extension beyond 60 days can be made by mutual consent of the parties. At the end of the conciliation period, a 21-day cooling-off period would begin, if required.
March 27, 2023 – A rail strike in Germany today is expected to cause delays and rail freight disruptions, with freight forwarders and shippers calling for flexibility on timings to help the movement of goods, with more disruptions in France also expected. The latest action follows a port pilots’ strike, which ended on Friday morning, and disruption in France as demonstrators protest against the president’s plan to extend the pensionable age. Meanwhile, sources in France have warned that strikers and protesters in France do not have to give notice, as they do in other countries. This means that, although the unions have not notified the authorities of further action, the expectation is that more protests are coming. In addition, Israel’s main airport has been shut down due to ongoing strikes in that country as well.
March 20, 2023 – CN Rail has announced labour peace with Unifor and the threat of a rail strike in this difficult economy has been removed. Canaan Transport will individually update customers to change their backup plans where required.
March 8, 2023 – Negotiations between CN and its main union have now reached a standstill and all signs indicate that there will be a rail strike on March 14, 2023 without further talks. Customers will be advised individually of any drastic delay or impact on your shipments.
March 6, 2023 – Canada’s Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra last week announced up to $5.4 million 20 projects across Canada as part of an initiative of the Rail Safety Improvement Program. The Rail Climate Change Adaptation Program supports research, development and implementation of innovative technologies, tools and approaches to better identify and reduce the increasing risks and impacts of climate change on Canada’s rail sector.The various recipients selected to receive funding will evaluate new designs and technologies, implement innovative technologies and develop a better understanding of the risks and impacts of climate change on railways to address adaptation challenges such as flooding, fires, permafrost degradation and more extreme operational temperatures.
February 27, 2023 – CN Rail’s clerical and worker’s union have issued notice that they intend to call for strike votes as a result of a breakdown in negotiations to renew the expired Dec. 31, 2022 contract. Please be advised that CN Rail terminal operations will be affected if their union goes on strike with action as early as March.
February 15, 2023 – In another sign that the economy is truly slowing, TS Lines, a new carrier that started service to the Port of Vancouver during the past 2 years, has now decided to permanently stop its service to Vancouver from Asia amidst falling freight rates.