GTHA Metrolinx services to be affected if CN and CPKC strike

Metrolinx says that multiple services will be suspended if a labour disruption occurs at Canada’s major railways this week.

The transit agency told CHCH News that if there is a work stoppage at Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. and Canadian National Railway Co. that train services on the Milton Line and Hamilton GO Centre would also be temporarily suspended. Customers are encouraged to use local transit or the Lakeshore West or Kitchener trains.

The government agency says that other GO lines, the UP Express and Lakeshore West line stations would not be impacted, and that no GO or UP Express services will be affected by a strike.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says a potential work stoppage at Canada’s major railways this week could be devastating for small businesses.

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The business association says many small businesses rely on rail services to send and receive goods, products and essential materials.

CFIB says the shutdowns could also disrupt public transit and commuting to big cities such as Toronto or Montreal.

CFIB Director of National Affairs Christina Santini told CHCH News that she cannot recall a time when both national rail lines were facing work stoppages at the same time.

“What that means for business owners is less revenue, for consumers less choice – potentially higher costs, and for employees of these other businesses that are effected if they don’t have what they need to produce goods or render a service, that might actually end up hours being reduced,” she said.

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. and Canadian National Railway Co. both face the potential for a work stoppage on Thursday if they are unable to reach deals with workers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.

Workers at CPKC have served strike notice that would see them walk off the job as of 12:01 a.m. ET on Thursday, while CN has said it intends to lock out workers at the same time unless an agreement or binding arbitration is achieved.

Both CPKC and CN have been halting shipments in preparation for potential work stoppages by a combined 9,300 workers at the two railways.

With files from The Canadian Press