Alberta urges Trudeau to head off port and rail strikes

Ottawa | Reuters—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to do all he can to head off potentially devastating strikes by railway and port workers.

Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway staff represented by the Teamsters union voted overwhelmingly this month to strike as early as May 22.

Producers groups like Grain Growers of Canada have warned a stoppage would interrupt grain movements and would delay payment to farmers. It could also have negative implications for trade relationships.

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Further to the west, talks between management and unions at the port of Vancouver have also hit an impasse.

“Any work stoppage affecting our railways and ports would be crippling for our national economy and North American supply chains,” Smith said in a letter to Trudeau that was released by her office.

Smith said Ottawa had to do all it could to help the parties in both disputes reach negotiated settlements.

“In the event of a work stoppage, your government must be prepared to use all the tools at its disposal to terminate it rapidly, including, if necessary, back-to-work legislation,” said Smith.

The Liberals could present a draft law to force striking workers back to work but in the past have shown little interest in doing so.

Asked about a possible Vancouver port strike, the office of Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan said: “Our government believes in collective bargaining.” O’Regan last week asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to look at whether a rail strike might have safety implications.

Until the board has issued a decision, the strike by workers at  cannot start. The board on Monday asked for submissions by the end of business on May 21 and could take weeks to act.

The unions are currently negotiating contracts and asking for better wages and working conditions.

—Reporting for Reuters David Ljunggren