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Union Pacific cautions of 'disastrous effects' from Canada rail strike

U.S. railroad operator Union Pacific has warned that a possible rail strike in Canada will have ravaging consequences on the North American economy.

More than 2,500 Union Pacific cars per day would stagnate across the border, CEO Jim Vena said in a letter to Canadian Labor Minister Steve MacKinnon on late Monday.

A few of these impacts have actually currently begun, Vena stated.

Railway operators Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National Railway are bracing for a work stoppage by Teamsters union members, which could begin as early as Thursday as speak with work out a brand-new labor agreement are yet to reach an arrangement.

The union's demands included much better salaries and benefits, arrangements for fatigue management and enhanced team scheduling.

Approximately 30% of freight rail operations in Canada cross the northern border annually, the Association of American Railroads said on Tuesday.

In the first half of the year, rail transportation accounted for about 14% of the overall bilateral trade of $382.4 billion in between the U.S. Canada, according to the U.S. Department of Transport.

A strike could also raise costs for numerous industries, which will be forced to either find last-minute alternatives to rail service or face closed down, Vena said.

For each one day of disruption, you can expect at least 3-5 days of recovery-- perhaps even more, provided two Canadian trains are affected.

Union Pacific links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the U.S., getting in touch with the Canadian train network and serving all 6 Mexico gateways.

MacKinnon is meeting with the 2 Canadian rail companies and the union in Montreal on Tuesday and in Calgary on Wednesday.

U.S. freight brokerage C.H. Robinson had actually stated on Monday it has begun diverting ocean freight of some U.S. customers away from Canadian ports.

(source: Reuters)