The railway labor dispute is costing farmers between $40 million and $50 million a day, according to a national grain growers association. A city councilor mentioned that the stoppage has disrupted the daily lives of residents. The action by the union for all rail workers, Teamsters Canada Railway Conference (TCRC), is looking at all options and they plan to keep the picket lines up.
Grain Growers of Canada Chair Andre Harpe stated that farmers are in a difficult situation due to the stoppage, especially because most farmers have already started harvesting. He mentioned that farmers have usually sold their grain right away and do not have enough storage capacity to store the crops.
The disruption in rail services is particularly affecting Maple Ridge, B.C., where the West Coast Express commuter train uses CPKC rails and is currently not running. The city councilor mentioned that this disruption has led to increased congestion on roads and highlighted the need for more transportation services.
According to Toronto Metropolitan University economics professor Eric Kam, the ongoing labor disputes could result in a consumer hoarding situation and impact the availability and prices of essential goods. Kam also mentioned that a long rail shutdown could cost Canada up to $3 billion in GDP and damage the country’s reputation.
McGill University associate sociology professor Barry Eidlin explained that the labor dispute is a result of various long-term trends, including stagnating wages, eroding benefits, and decreasing job security. He emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the treatment of essential workers as disposable, leading to increased demands for better conditions.
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