Impacts of a CN and CPKC work stoppage on Alberta’s crop sector

Team Alberta Crops seek provincial support to prevent the potential CN, CPKC rail strike.

Alberta’s crop sector farmers are aware of the negotiations taking place between the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) and both the Canada National Railway (CN) and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railways. Of concern is the announcement that close to 10,000 workers have voted to authorize strikes and unless the parties reach an agreement there could be a work stoppage as early as May 22,
2024.

Over 80 percent of our crop commodities are transported by rail to port for export. If contracted crops fall behind schedule and can’t be delivered and loaded onto vessels waiting at port, demurrage fees are incurred for each day that the ships wait and can range from $10,000 – $15,000 per day.

About Team Alberta Crops:
Team Alberta Crops represents a working collaboration between seven of Alberta’s crop commissions: Alberta Beekeepers Commission, Alberta Canola, Alberta Grains, Alberta Pulse Growers, Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers, Alberta Sugar Beet Growers and the Potato Growers of Alberta. Team Alberta Crops