CN Rail and Unifor, the union representing 4,800 workers, return to the bargaining table Monday, just hours before the deadline threatening a lockout.
Michael Gurney, Communications Manager with the Prince Rupert Port Authority isn’t speculating over impacts a lockout might have.
However he says any type of service change from CN Rail would impact the port, with the effects felt across Northern BC.
“There’s approximately 20 trains per-day that service the port, both incoming and outgoing,” he says. “The CN line is the main line that serves the port.”
“There would definitely be an impact,” Gurney says. “We are hopeful that a resolution will be reached between the parties.”
Prince George City Councillor Jillian Merrick says the potential lockout would be tough for the city to handle, given the rail traffic that goes through the city and shipments that are destined for the area.
“Especially in our manufacturing, sales, and heavy industries, so it’ll be very tough, I think companies will adapt, but certainly our exports out of the Port of Prince Rupert will feel the punch, for sure,” she says.
Both sides say they are far apart on wages and working conditions and the deadline before the lockout is 8 p.m. Pacific time.
Unifor says there are around 120 – 200 workers in the Prince George area.
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