OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Meat trade associations in Canada lauded the federal government’s involvement in the ongoing rail strike dispute that looks to disrupt the North American agricultural supply chain.

The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) and the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) expressed support for the government for using section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which moves the dispute between Canadian National Railway (CN), Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) into arbitration.

The meat groups believe the move provides the certainty farmers and processors need.

“Canada’s red meat processors need stable, reliable supply chains to run their businesses,” said Chris White, chief executive officer of CMC. “The action taken by the Minister of Labor will prevent millions of dollars in losses, irreversible reputational damage, environmental disposal challenges, and enormous waste.

“At the same time, we want to acknowledge the tremendous engagement by Minister MacAulay, who was available and accessible to hear directly from industry and convey our concerns to his cabinet colleague and the Prime Minister.”

CN and CPKC are looking to resume train operations within the next few days as the two sides try to work out a collective agreement in arbitration.

During the summer of 2023, a strike by the Port of Vancouver disrupted $10.7 billion worth of trade during the 35 days of strike, according to the CMC. The associations said impacts of two Class 1 railways striking at once would have “worse, unprecedented ramifications.”

“The Canadian pork industry relies on the seamless operation of our transportation networks to feed our animals and deliver high-quality products to global markets,” said René Roy, chair of the CPC. “Ongoing transportation disruptions would threaten the livelihood of our producers, the welfare of our animals and Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner.

“Actions like the ones the federal government just took are crucial to ensure the movement of perishable goods like pork and essential supplies like animal feed,” Roy added. “The feed our pigs rely on to survive is shipped by rail, and without a reliable and steady supply, their welfare would be at risk. The stakes are simply too high to allow these disruptions to go unaddressed.”

The two associations noted that they respect workers’ rights to collectively bargain and believe the best deals are reached at the table with the interests that must be balanced against the public interest.

After the federal government’s decision to bring in arbitration, the TCRC released a statement disputing Ottawa’s decision to bring in arbitration.

“The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference will review the Minister’s referral and the CIRB’s response, consulting with legal counsel to determine the next steps,” said Paul Boucher, president of TCRC. “Meanwhile, picket lines remain in place. By resorting to binding arbitration, the government has allowed CN and CPKC to sidestep a union determined to protect rail safety. Despite claiming to value and honor the collective bargaining process, the federal government quickly used its authority to suspend it, mere hours after an employer-imposed work stoppage. This action mirrors their earlier interference this year, where they used the CIRB to stifle bargaining for months.”