FOR RELEASE
Contact: Janie Sheng (202) 245-0221
02/13/2015 (Friday)
Janie Sheng
No. 15-1


FedRelay 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov
STB MONITORING NEGOTIATIONS AMONG CANADIAN RAILROADS & UNION EMPLOYEES, BETWEEN U.S. PACIFIC MARITIME ASSOCIATION & INT’L. LONGSHORE & WAREHOUSE UNION


Today, the Acting Chair of the Surface Transportation Board (Board) expressed concern about the impact of work stoppages on the nation’s rail network and encouraged U.S. rail carriers to share information with their shippers and alert the Board should problems begin to develop.


The Board has been monitoring ongoing collective bargaining negotiations respectively between Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP) and Canadian National Railway (CN) and their union workforce in Canada, and between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. In light of recent developments, including the potential for work stoppages, the Board encourages railroads–particularly Class I carriers–to continue to prepare for logistics challenges and to communicate proactively with shippers and stakeholders.


“The rail system is just starting to gain traction after last year’s service disruptions, so a further rail slow-down that could reverse that progress is a concern,” Miller said. “Shippers need the certainty of reliable rail service and I hope this current labor situation doesn’t add greater uncertainty to our system.” Miller expressed confidence that the railroads will do all they can to ease negative consequences for their shippers and assures shippers that the Board will continue to monitor the situation closely.


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