Two buses loaded with teamsters arrived at the legislature on Monday to show support for their safety while the CN Rail strike continues.
Over 100 workers were present for question period including John Chalmers, the local chair for Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) CTY Division 847 from Saskatoon.
When speaking to reporters with fellow members standing behind him in the rotunda, he said they wanted to attend question period to show their support for the Saskatchewan NDP who have been fighting for the safety of workers.
Chalmers explained that all they want is to get back to work and move trains, but they need to see a fair deal that is equitable for both parties and addresses the exhaustion employees are facing in the industry.
“We don’t want to see anybody not come home. We’ve had four deaths on the railroad already this year and we don’t want anymore,” he told reporters. “We need our members to be rested and to have time off.”
Teamsters touring around the legislative building on Monday afternoon in Regina. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
NDP leader Ryan Meili raised concerns about the week-old CN Rail strike.
With the striking teamsters workers in the legislative gallery, Meili raised issues around the province’s call for Ottawa to take immediate steps to end the labor dispute.
Meili gave voice to worker concerns about rail safety.
“Their safety matters and so does the safety of the public,” mentioned Meili. “I was meeting with folks on the line and one of them talked about driving ‘mile-long bombs’ through our cities. It’s sensational language, but when you think about it, we should not be playing any games when it comes to safety.”
Trade and export minister Jeremy Harrison said safety issues are a key priority but the strike will cost the Canadian economy over one billion dollars a week.
He discussed how a major drop in farm exports and a shut-down at the Rocanville potash mine point to the immediate need for Ottawa to use binding arbitration or other legislative action to end the dispute.
Harrison said they are not siding with anyone in this situation – they just want to see a deal sooner rather than later.
“We are very dependent on rail transportation. Unlike other jurisdictions that have the option of seaborne transportation – we don’t,” said the minister. “We need our goods to be moving again.”
Harrison added that it’s not in the government’s legislative jurisdiction to end the strike, which is why they are calling on the federal government, the union and CN to find an answer.
(With files from Moises Canales)