Central ND News

On July 17, 2024, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to prevent an impending rail strike. Workers from Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Canadian National Railway (CN), represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, voted in late June to authorize a strike. However, before any strike can legally occur, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) must issue a ruling outlining essential shipments that must continue during a work stoppage. This ruling is expected in the coming days.

In his letter, Senator Cramer emphasized the critical role of railroads in maintaining trade between North Dakota and Canada. "Railroads play a key operational role in the trade relationship, offering a cost-efficient and reliable means of transportation," wrote Cramer. "Each year, railroads haul millions of tons of products between North Dakota and Canada. This includes fuels, agricultural commodities, and other goods the residents of our communities rely on daily. Any disruption to the transport of these essential products poses risks to consumers and our economies."

Cramer highlighted particular concerns for those in the agricultural sector who depend heavily on rail transport during harvest season. He noted that disruptions could delay deliveries of agricultural goods, potentially leading to food shortages and higher prices for consumers due to limited alternative transportation options.

In 2022, Senator Cramer had also written to Prime Minister Trudeau with similar concerns about preventing a rail strike.

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