Union plans new rail strike despite arbitration order

Market: Agriculture, Biofuels, Chemicals, Coal, Coking coal, Crude oil, Fertilizers, Freight, LPG, Metals, Oil products, Petrochemicals, Petroleum coke
23/08/24

The status of rail freight in Canada remains uncertain after a Canadian labor union today issued a new strike notice to Canadian National (CN), less than a day after the federal government forced all parties to participate in binding arbitration.

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) today issued notice to CN that members will go on strike at 10am ET on 26 August. The union had not issued a strike notice to CN earlier this week, but employees could not work yesterday after the CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) locked them out.

"We do not believe that any of the matters we have been discussing over the last several days are insurmountable," the union said today in its notice to CN. It said it would be available to discuss issues to avoid another work stoppage.

CN indicated it was frustrated with the union's action.

"While CN is focused on its recovery plan to get back to powering the economy, the Teamsters are focused on returning to the picket line and holding the country hostage to their demands," the railroad said.

CN last night had begun implementing a recovery plan to restore service.

The union has not yet responded to inquiries about its action today. The office of labour minister Steven MacKinnon declined to comment.

Rail operations at CN and CP stopped at 12:01am ET on Thursday after the union launched a strike at CPKC and both railroads locked out employees. That action ended late Thursday afternoon with the federal government directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to manage binding arbitration on the railroads. CIRB, an independent agency, has not yet said if it will accept the government's order.

CN began moving some freight early on 23 August, but the new strike order issued soon by the union today could disrupt those plans. The union has also challenged the constitutionality of MacKinnon's order regarding CPKC operations pending the outcome of a new ruling by the CIRB.

CPKC's rail fleet remains parked in the meantime. CPKC said late Thursday it was disappointed in the minister's decision and sought to meet with CIRB to discuss resumption of service.

CPKC said the union "refused to discuss any resumption of service, and instead indicated that they wish to make submissions to challenge the constitutionality of the Minister's direction."

A case management meeting with CIRB occurred last night and another was scheduled for early today.

By Abby Caplan

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News

14/01/25

Colonial shuts Line 1 due to Georgia spill: Update

Houston, 14 January (Argus) — Colonial Pipeline's main gasoline bearing line may be closed for more than a day as the company responds to a gasoline spill in Georgia detected on Tuesday. "Colonial has taken Line 1 out of service temporarily while we respond to a potential product release," the company said in a notice. "Normal operations continue on the remainder of the system." The spill occurred in Paulding County, Georgia, about 25 miles southwest of Marietta, Georgia. The company said it had crews on site responding to the incident. The company did not provide information on when the line would restart. Market sources said leak was small but it could take up to two days to resume operations. Line 1 has capacity to carry up to 1.3mn b/d of gasoline from Houston, Texas, to Greensboro, North Carolina. Cash prices for US Gulf coast 87 conventional gasoline in the Gulf coast ended Tuesday's session down by 3.19¢/USG at $2.115/USG, reversing gains from the previous session's 14-week high that was driven by higher blending demand. Liquidity fell during Tuesday's trading session with uncertainty over the length of the pipeline shut-down. The pipeline leak did not affect line space trading on Tuesday, which had already been falling. Values saw their sixth session of losses, shedding 0.25¢/USG day-over-day. A trade was reported at -1.5¢/USG, prior to the notice of the pipeline shut down, with no further trades reported for the remainder of the session. By Hannah Borai Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Find out more

News

Canada's tariff response may be ‘unprecedented’: Ford

14/01/25

News

14/01/25

Canada's tariff response may be ‘unprecedented’: Ford

Calgary, 14 January (Argus) — Tariffs threatened by president-elect Donald Trump against Canada will hurt the province of Ontario the most, the premier of the country's most populated province said this week, so all options must be considered should retaliation be required. "We have to use all the tools possible," said Ontario premier Doug Ford in 13 January press conference, less than one week before Trump's inauguration and the potential imposition of 25pc tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. "We might have to do things that are unprecedented," which could include withholding shipments of minerals, Ford said. Ontario accounts for about 40pc of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) and is known for its manufacturing, automotive and critical mineral industries. Ford's position runs in contrast to comments made earlier by Alberta premier Danielle Smith that cutting off Canadian energy flows to the US is a non-starter and would not happen . "Well, that's Danielle Smith, she's speaking for Alberta, she's not speaking for the country," Ford said. "I'm speaking for Ontario, that's going to get hurt a lot more. They aren't going to go after the oil, they're coming after Ontario." "I want to ship him more critical minerals, I want to ship him more energy, but make no mistake about it, if they're coming full-tilt at us I won't hesitate to pull out every single tool we have until they can feel the pain," Ford said. "But that's the last thing I want to do." Smith met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida over the weekend, which was a welcome move by Ford, who said he has been working the phones calling American politicians daily. Even so, Canada's response needs to come from the federal government, which has so far been lacking, in Ford's view. "This is their jurisdiction," said Ford. "They need to come up with a strong plan. They need to be doing everything, every single day to make sure we avoid these tariffs." Premiers will meet with prime minister Justin Trudeau this week to strategize how to deal with potential tariffs. Trudeau said last week he planned to resign amid low polls and party infighting with a new leader to be chosen on 9 March. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Australia's Jan-Nov tallow exports hit record high

14/01/25

News

14/01/25

Australia's Jan-Nov tallow exports hit record high

Sydney, 14 January (Argus) — Australian tallow exports during January-November 2024 reached the highest on record, surpassing the previous record for exports in the whole of 2023. Australia exported 517,364t of tallow in the first 11 months of 2024, surpassing the 504,409t of tallow in 2023, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) accessed through Global Trade Tracker (GTT) (see graph) . The record export number was the result of a larger cattle herd, high slaughter rates and favourable weather conditions, while growing demand from the biofuels sector has also helped boost exports. Domestic cattle slaughter rates stood at 2.24mn head in July-September, the highest since the same period in 2015, because of processors' concerted effort to increase capacity. Australia's beef production hit a record high in July-September at 690,694t, according to ABS data. Over 90pc of Australian tallow was exported to either Singapore or the US in the first 11 months of the year, with each country receiving 53.2pc and 37.6pc respectively, according to GTT data. Market participants have indicated Australian tallow trade flows may swing towards the US this year because of the newly released guidance on the 45Z tax credit in the country. Prices for lower carbon intensity feedstocks like tallow increased following the new guidance, while imported used cooking oil will not qualify for the tax credit. By Tom Woodlock Australian tallow exports (t) Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Cliffs still seeks US Steel, pledges no closures

13/01/25

News

13/01/25

Cliffs still seeks US Steel, pledges no closures

Houston, 13 January (Argus) — Cleveland-Cliffs chief executive Lourenco Goncalves said today that he remains open to buying US Steel, promising to keep all of the acquired assets open. Goncalves said Ohio-based Cliffs still wants to buy Pennsylvania-based US Steel and would invest in the company's assets. "Of course, we are going to keep [US Steel mills] open," Goncalves told reporters on Monday. "We are going to make them bigger, we are going to make them better, we are going to produce more." His comments come 10 days after President Joe Biden blocked Japan-based Nippon Steel's agreement to buy US Steel for $15bn, citing national security concerns. Nippon had committed to invest $1.3bn in US Steel's mills and to not cut any of US Steel's production for 10 years without government approval. Cliffs tried to buy US Steel for $54/share with half paid in cash and half in company stock before US Steel agreed to go with Nippon's $55/share all-cash offer. Goncalves promise to not close any acquired assets comes as the US steel market remains oversupplied , according to market sources. Goncalves said he cannot make a bid for US Steel until the company and Nippon cancel their merger agreement. He also dismissed antitrust concerns over Cliffs owning all US iron ore mines and all US blast furnace capacity. A combined company would have Cliffs running the mining side of the business and US Steel running the steelmaking operations, he said. A US Steel-Cliffs merger would have 32.1mn short tons (st)/yr of flat rolled raw steel capacity, in addition to plate making and seamless tube production. Goncalves did not say how he would finance such a purchase. Cliffs had $3.8bn in liquidity as of 30 September, including $39mn of cash, according to a third-quarter presentation. US Steel had $4.05bn in liquidity in the same period, of which $1.77bn was cash. Nippon is trying to buy US Steel. Both companies have sued Biden and others in the government over the denial, and filed a separate lawsuit against Cliffs, Goncalves and United Steelworkers (USW) International president David McCall, who endorsed a takeover by Cliffs. By Rye Druzchetta Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

US tariffs on Canada likely, oil cut-off not: Alberta

13/01/25

News

13/01/25

US tariffs on Canada likely, oil cut-off not: Alberta

Calgary, 13 January (Argus) — Tariffs threatened by the US against Canada will become a reality, according to the premier of oil-rich Alberta , but any retaliation will not entail cutting off energy exports. "They're likely to come in on January 20th," Alberta premier Danielle Smith said of the tariffs on Monday after she met with US president-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida over the weekend. "I haven't seen anything that suggests that he's changing course." Trump in late-November said he plans to impose a 25pc tariff against all imports from Canada, citing inadequate border controls and a US trade deficit. Canada has since pledged to spend more money on border security while Smith reckons Canada would have a deficit if not for energy trade. "We actually buy more goods and services from the US than they buy from us," Smith said in an online interview with reporters. "We actually have $58bn in a trade deficit with the Americans when you take energy out." Smith wanted assurances the US is still interested in buying Canadian oil and gas, with her province being the heart of the country's energy sector. "Oil and gas is going to be key for being able to get a breakthrough, once the tariffs do come in, in getting them off," said Smith. Canadian foreign affairs minister Mélanie Joly said in a 12 January interview broadcast on CTV that the country could consider stopping the flow of Canadian energy in retaliation to tariffs. But Smith said that would not happen since the oil are owned by the province, not the federal government. "[The federal government] will have a national unity crisis on their hands at the same time as having a crisis with our US trade partners," said Smith. About 80pc of Canada's 5mn b/d of crude production is consumed by refineries in the US, with many in the Midcontinent having no practical alternative , according to the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). The region imported 2.7mn b/d of Canadian crude in October, the latest data point from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). "I hope cooler heads prevail," said Smith, adding that Trump seemed interested in buying more oil and gas. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more