News
- CN Rail and Ground Updates
- 11/30/2009
CN Management Driving Trains – TCRC Labour Disruption Update
CN moved forward with its contingency plan to maintain operations across Canada after talks with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) ended late Saturday evening with no agreement on a new labour contract. CN has deployed all of its qualified management employees and will continue to operate freight trains safely, although shippers may experience service disruptions, including some delays.The strike is restricted to Canada and CN expects, and the law requires, all other employees to abide by the terms of their collective agreements and to continue to report to work.
CN encourage customer to continue to communicate with their account manager or customer support representative regarding service requirements, and exchange any key information that might be required if you wish to be contacted beyond regular working hours. CN is disappointed that the union would not agree to binding arbitration in order to avoid a labour disruption. The railroad is resolved and focused on safely providing the best service they can and will provide immediate updates should any change in the status of their negotiations occur.
Update Nov. 28: TCRC Labour Disruption: Constant updates are also available on CN’s website on the State of the Railroad at www.cn.ca/service.
Customers can also use CN’s eBusiness tools for detailed information regarding shipments, and to help CN help you during the labour disruption. Once customers are finished unloading, they are asked to release empty railcars instantly with Release Railcars, and use Intermodal Retail to release CN delivered containers or trailers. This will provide CN with a full understanding of how many railcars customers have loaded on their track and the workload customers have for CN
Update Nov. 29: TCRC Labour Disruption: CN continues to execute their strike contingency plan in Canada. Operations are proceeding safely and weather across the country remains favourable. CN encourages customers to help them help you during this labour disruption by reducing the time spent at your site performing in plant switching. Customers can help by:
• Ensuring CN can have access at your gates 24/7; eliminating delays of their crews due to locked gates, blue flags, or locked derails.
• Blocking but not coupling your priority railcars ahead of time on your pull track; however, CN may not be able to pull all of your railcars.
• Using your track mobile or railcar mover, to perform your in plant switching on your own.
• CN has suspended demurrage, storage and guarantees on car orders; however please continue to order and release your railcars electronically as early as possible so CN has full visibility at all times of the workload you have for them.
• Safety remains priority one; CN appreciates your support in providing their crews safe working conditions inside your facilities.
• You can also leverage the eBusiness tools during the labour disruption. Use My Shipments to keep track of your shipments, although they may not move as they normally would during the strike. Order-in and Switch Railcars will provide information regarding what railcars CN has for your facility. Your Calendar view in our Car Order tool will not be accurate, but you can use the Supply List feature to see all cars available for you. While the switch times will not reflect the actual service, is important that you continue to order-in CN supplied railcars and/or order your private railcars so that CN has an accurate picture of how many railcars you need. For updated switch times and to highlight your empty railcar requirements please continue to contact your customer support representative.