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Local Fuel Suppliers Breathing a Sigh of Relief This Morning

Wednesday, 27 November 2019 10:31

The CN Rail strike did not have a major impact on local fuel suppliers, however it could have, if the strike went on any longer.

WOODSTOCK - Striking workers at CN Rail are back on the job this morning.

Freight trains are running today after a deal was finally reached. The strike lasted for 8 days and halted 90 percent of CN's freight train traffic, impacting several industries across the County, including mining, petroleum, farming and forestry. 

The strike included 32 hundred employee's with conductors, trains people and yard workers. Locally, we didn't feel the impact of the strike as bad as other parts of the Country, most notably Western Canada and Quebec. 

Site Supervisor at UPI Fuels in Woodstock Gerry Derouse says they were able to manage the strike. 

"Customers were still satisfied we still had product, so everything seemed to be rolling along the same as usual. 

Derouse says, had the strike gone on longer, they would have felt a serious impact though. 

"Had the strike gone on longer, it could have had a huge impact on us and our customers, we have diesel here, so if you can't have a diesel supply brought in here, that is a lot of customers for us."

Derouse adds they are breathing a sigh of relief this morning, now that the trains are running. 

"Well my first thought was, thank goodness, because it's Christmas, who wants to be laid off for Christmas and my second thought was thank goodness for our customers, we have a lot of truck drivers who come through here and rely on us." 

Ratification votes on the tentative contract agreement are expected to be completed within eight weeks.

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