A strike by 1,700 CN Rail engineers across Canada is not expected to affect container traffic at the Halifax Port Authority, officials say.

But some of the local engineers, who were protesting Saturday along the major rail line between Halifax's two main port terminals, aren't convinced.

The port worked out a contingency plan with CN management before the engineers walked off the job early Saturday, spokeswoman Michelle Pevril said.

'CN is continuing to run trains with management personnel and we'll continue to monitor service daily.'—Michelle Pevril, Halifax port

"The port of Halifax has been monitoring the potential CN strike for a number of days and we'll continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis," she said.

"CN is continuing to run trains with management personnel and we'll continue to monitor service daily. So that work will continue throughout the strike to ensure that we can continue to deliver service to our customers."

CN moves 70 per cent of the cargo that comes into the Halifax port every year, Pevril said.

Workers predict slowdown

Fourteen local CN engineers are involved in the walkout. At least 10 of them were picketing on Saturday, when a train from Toronto was expected.

They contend only three local managers are capable of operating a train. So while service at the port may not be immediately disrupted, they say it will slow down eventually if the strike continues.

The last CN strike in 2007 lasted two weeks before Parliament drafted back to work legislation, prompting the sides to come to an agreement.

Talks between the union and management in Montreal broke down late Friday.

At issue is the amount of a wage increase and mileage caps for the locomotive engineers.

The union says CN's proposal to increase the monthly cap would require some engineers to work seven days a week.

Some of the Halifax engineers worry that increasing the number of miles an engineer is allowed to travel in a given month will mean fewer are needed and ultimately, layoffs will ensue.

The company says the new cap would bring the average work week up to about 41 hours.

The strike will not affect VIA Rail passenger train service in the Maritimes, CN officials have said.

"Our commitment is to our customers to provide the best service possible under the circumstances," spokesman Mark Hallman said.